Fix your carbon footprint first, Boris! As Government's green spokesman says don't rinse plates before using dishwasher, it emerges No10 Downing Street has a poor eco-rating
There's no need to rinse your dishes before putting them into a dishwasher, the Government's chief spokesman for the UN's climate change summit has advised.
But the rather obvious message has been somewhat diluted after it emerged that No10 itself has an especially poor carbon footprint rating.
It was revealed No10 achieved only an 'E' rating for its carbon footprint – just two rungs before the lowest rating of 'G'.
It came as Allegra Stratton, the chief spokesman for this year's climate change conference, hosted in Glasgow, advised the public not to rinse their dishes before they put them into a dishwasher.
'Did you know, according to Cop26 principal partner Reckitt, who make Finish, you don't really need to rinse your dishes before they go into the dishwasher?' she wrote in the Daily Telegraph.
Allegra Stratton, the chief spokesman for this year's climate change conference, hosted in Glasgow, advised the public not to rinse their dishes before they put them into a dishwasher
Her comments attracted some mockery online. Tansy Kelly Robson wrote: 'I just find it funny they assume everyone has a dishwasher.' Another commentator said: 'Brilliant! We could all invite one guest fewer to our dinner parties to cut down on food waste too.'
Miss Stratton also wrote that households could take 'micro-steps' to do their bit against climate change such as freezing bread and buying shower gel that comes as a bar rather than ones that come in plastic bottles.
Formerly No10's official spokesman, Miss Stratton is a friend of the Prime Minister's wife and now the public face of the climate change conference along with former business secretary Alok Sharma.
Downing Street is facing pressure to step up the country's fight against climate change before it invites the world's nations to Cop26, the UN's annual climate change summit, this October. It has set 2050 as the date the UK will hit net zero greenhouse gas emissions by.
But critics say No10 needs to get its own house in order first before lecturing the rest of the nation on how to cut its carbon emissions.
No10's most recent carbon footprint rating is in E which is the third lowest band possible.
Downing Street is facing pressure to step up the country's fight against climate change before it invites the world's nations to Cop26, the UN's annual climate change summit, this October
It is an improvement on the 'F' grade achieved the year before but sources conceded that this was likely because more people worked at home during the pandemic.
Chris Stark, the head of the body which advises the Government on cutting its carbon footprint, said: 'We can't expect decarbonised homes if Government won't get its own house in order. A zero-carbon Downing Street should be top of the list. What better way to demonstrate climate leadership?'
Green energy specialist Peter Thom said: 'If your kid got an E in school, you'd say they must try harder. The Government should be leading from the front, and taking action not just saying you're doing something.'
A Downing Street spokesman said: 'The Downing Street estate has taken a number of eco-friendly measures such as full rainwater harvesting system for the gardens and low energy and motion detecting lighting throughout, while preserving the heritage of the listed buildings.
'In line with the Prime Minister's ambition for the UK to be a global leader in clean, green technology and sustainable living, No10 looks to build on these measures.'
A source also said that No10 'is heated by low energy boilers and we are scoping the viability of using heat pumps at the end of their life as part of plans towards net zero'.
They are also planning to replace its petrol lawn mowers with battery powered ones.