Among the changes being considering are the pushing back of a ban on the sales of new vehicles with internal combustion engines (ICE) from 2030 to 2035 - and a weakening of plans to phase out gas boilers by 2035.

Suella Braverman told Sky News that, while the government remains committed to the goal of achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, "we need to put economic growth first".

Politics latest: Tory row as Sunak set to delay net zero policies

"We need to put household costs and budgets first. We need to put the cost of living first," she added.

"And we're only going to achieve that net zero target whereby people and the British people can go about their daily lives using their cars, using the facilities that are available."

The chair of Ford UK says a delay to the 2030 deadline for selling ICE vehicles would undermine the "ambition, commitment and consistency" they need from the UK government.

The 2030 ban on ICE vehicles is considered a key plank of the government's goal of achieving net zero because experts say it will encourage people to switch to zero-emission electric vehicles sooner.

Climate scientists say that urgent cuts are needed to the world's greenhouse gas emissions if we are to stop temperatures rising to a potentially catastrophic extent.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is set to lay out further details of his plans in a speech in the coming days. The reported change in stance has led at least one Tory MP to "seriously" consider putting in a letter of no confidence in Mr Sunak's leadership.

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In a statement, Mr Sunak said: "No leak will stop me beginning the process of telling the country how and why we need to change.

"As a first step, I'll be giving a speech this week to set out an important long-term decision we need to make so our country becomes the place I know we all want it to be for our children."

Conservative MPs are particularly angry at the potential delay to the ending of the sale of internal combustion engines to 2035.

One branded the move "anti-business" given how much has been invested into electric vehicles (EV) and the associated infrastructure.

They told Sky's deputy political editor Sam Coates that a push back on the petrol and diesel ban would mean breaking a promise the prime minister made to Conservative MPs privately.

One minister said they would be "staggered" if the ban was delayed, telling Sky News: "Every automotive company is investing in EV, we've just given Tata all this money to make batteries, it's bonkers."

He was referring to plans by the owner of Jaguar Land Rover to build an electric car battery factory in the UK.

Tory MPs Chris Skidmore, Alok Sharma and Sir Simon Clarke all complained publicly about the potential watering down of the pledges.

Lisa Brankin, the chair of Ford UK, highlighted that her company had invested £430m in UK development and manufacturing facilities, with more cash to come to fit the 2030 timeframe.

Ms Brankin said: "This is the biggest industry transformation in over a century and the UK 2030 target is a vital catalyst to accelerate Ford into a cleaner future.

"Our business needs three things from the UK government: ambition, commitment and consistency. A relaxation of 2030 would undermine all three.

"We need the policy focus trained on bolstering the EV market in the short term and supporting consumers while headwinds are strong: infrastructure remains immature, tariffs loom and cost-of-living is high."

BMW MINI, which announced plans to construct its electric Mini in Oxford, said it "neither sought or was made any promises" about the timings of an ICE ban when the decision was made.

Asked about the EV industry, Ms Braverman said: "I'm not going to prejudge what the prime minister is going to set out in detail.

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"But I would say I do commend him for taking difficult decisions, long-term decisions in the national interest and in the interest of the British people."

Asked about the concerns raised by her Conservative MPs, Ms Braverman said "everyone should just wait until they hear the detail from the prime minister himself".

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Darren Jones, Labour's shadow chief secretary to the Treasury, said we will need to wait for the reaction of the car companies to the anticipated policy change.

He told Sky News that "part of the problem" is Mr Sunak's "weak leadership", and the way in which the changes first surfaced through a leak and with a "late night press release from the prime minister's bunker".