Shadow minister Ed Miliband took the stage at the Labour conference in Liverpool yesterday, to unveil a bold vision for the UK’s energy future. At the heart of Labour’s plan lies the creation of GB Energy, a state-owned company dedicated to substantial investments in renewable energy.
Mr. Miliband highlighted the disparity between the UK and other nations, questioning why the UK hasn’t capitalised on its offshore wind resources as effectively.
Expressing his pride in Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer’s 2030 mission, Mr. Miliband outlined the party’s strategy, promising that Labour would: “Quadruple offshore wind.”
He said, “[Labour will] double onshore wind. We’ll treble solar. We’ll quadruple offshore wind. We’ll invest in nuclear and hydrogen and carbon capture and tidal power.”
His noisily applauded speech concluded with a call for a future built on “Power for Britain, wealth for Britain, jobs for Britain.”
Labour’s green energy policy serves as a clear contrast to recent Tory decisions, particularly Rishi Sunak’s delay in banning petrol and diesel vehicles. Mr. Miliband, the shadow secretary of state for Energy Security and Net Zero, emphasised achieving net zero as his top priority.
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Speaking to a fringe event hosted by Open Labour on Sunday, he reiterated plans for GB Energy, drawing inspiration from nationalised energy models in countries like France and Sweden, proposing a publicly owned energy company to lead the transition.
Tories Branded ‘Pawn Shop Republican Party’
Mr. Miliband also criticised the Tories, branding them a “pawn shop Republican Party.”He said: “I think Sunak has made a massive mistake because he has decided to have a climate policy culture war in this country. People do not want a pawn shop Republican Party. And that is what he is turning the Conservative Party into.”
Despite Labour’s enthusiastic push for net zero, public opinion remains divided, with concerns about the financial implications of such policies.
Nigel Farage, the honorary president of Reform UK, echoed the need for a comprehensive debate on the practicality and costs associated with Net Zero.
Speaking to The Epoch Times on Saturday, Mr. Farage said: “There’s … unanimity within the House of Commons that anything we do in the name of achieving net zero is the right thing to do. But actually, what’s happening now is people are realising the costs of it. And there is quite a rebellion going on, I think.
“I think Sunak tried to play to that a few weeks ago, but was that sincere? All he’s done is kick things down the road a little bit. I mean, they’re still aiming for 80 percent of car sales to be electric by 2030.”
‘A Lot More Debate To Be Had’
He added: “I think there’s a lot more debate to be had on the cost of net zero. A lot more debate to be had.”Mr. Farage also highlighted the challenges posed by high-polluting nations like China, suggesting that the UK’s efforts might have limited global impact.
Mr. Farage added: “I mean, it’s hard to believe, isn’t it, that China has put out more CO2 since 2014 than we have since the Industrial Revolution? I think this gives you some sense of context.”
On Sunday, shadow minister Anna McMorrin claimed a need to push more urgency for delivering on climate change, citing recent abnormal UK weather patterns as evidence.
She said: “You know, it’s October, it feels like midsummer. We’re seeing huge rainfall happening, extreme rainfall like the storm yesterday in Glasgow, the likes of which many people haven’t seen before.
“These are abnormal conditions that we are seeing due to climate change. Why is that happening? That is a global phenomenon that we must play our part in.
She also revealed that a top priority for Labour would be to ensure that the U.N. “puts climate front and foremost as its fourth pillar.”
Speaking at the Labour conference in Liverpool today, Sir Keir criticised the Tories for diluting green policies, suggesting Prime Minister Rishi Sunak might prioritise short-term gains over long-term sustainability.
Sir Keir said, “I have to warn you, a party that has so completely severed its relationship with the future, that is prepared to scorch the earth just to get at us—they will be dangerous.”
