𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

Robert Jenrick has been blamed for creating an effective ban on air condition units when serving in a previous Conservative government. The criticism came as temperatures could hit record highs, with today forecast to be the hottest day of the year. It has left millions of people sweltering in their homes as critics say changes to national building regulations created a de facto ban on air conditioning.

Mr Jenrick strongly denies the claim made by the Conservative Party. A Reform source said: “This policy was signed off and announced by Michael Gove, when Kemi Badenoch was number two in the housing department.”

New rules mean that builders need to prove they have considered so-called ‘passive cooling’ measures before installing air-con. In many cases it means that the installation of air conditioning is not allowed, with the Labour government having confirmed their commitment to the plan amid fears widespread rollout could overwhelm the national grid.

Sir James Cleverly, the Shadow Housing Secretary, said: “Robert Jenrick devised an effective ban on air conditioning into national building regulations, and in London Sadiq Khan has doubled down, failing to build enough homes while insisting the ones that are built should ignore the reality of hotter summers.

He added: “The Conservatives will scrap these anti-air conditioning rules, override Khan’s outdated local restrictions, and make sure the homes built today are fit for the summers of the future.”

The party is pledging to reverse the net zero inspired ban on air con on new homes, with the party saying the restriction leaves families suffering in heatwaves.

Figures within the Conservatives claim the ban was devised by Mr Jenrick, who recently crossed the floor to join Nigel Farage’s Reform UK.

They claim it was enshrined in law by a change made by Mr Jenrick when he was Housing Secretary, with the department he lead in 2021 saying: “Mechanical cooling, such as air conditioning […] is not a desirable or financially efficient solution to the issue of overheating because of its energy use”.

Claire Coutinho MP, the Shadow Energy Secretary, said: “Why should Britain be one of the only countries to not have air conditioning? We already have one of the cleanest energy systems in the world – it should be used to make everyone’s lives better, not worse.

She added: “Cheap, abundant energy is the foundation of prosperity, but Ed Miliband wants to make it more expensive and for people to use less of it. This is an anti-growth mindset. The next Conservative Government will get rid of the anti-growth air con ban. Let’s make Britain cool again.”

Reform UK was approached for comment.