Last year, Mr Sunak delayed a ban on petrol and diesel cars by five years and argued in favour of the “fairest credible path” to reach net zero by 2050 – which he has insisted is realistic – “in a way that brings people with us”.

The Prime Minister has continued to pursue various pieces of green legislation in the intervening months, which dozens of Tories have opposed in a series of Commons votes.

In December, Suella Braverman and Dame Priti Patel, two former home secretaries, were among MPs who voted to oppose a quota on sales of electric cars, although the Government was able to pass the measure with support from Labour.

Senior figures on the Tory Right, including Jacob Rees-Mogg, a former business secretary, and Liz Truss, Mr Sunak’s predecessor, have echoed calls from Reform UK for the abolition of all remaining net zero targets.

A Department of Energy source said: “Net zero is and should continue to be a great opportunity for growth. We have long punched above our weight for innovation and it is right we pursue an approach that backs a free market model, creates jobs and takes the public and businesses with us.”