Ed Miliband has taken on the critics of his clean energy crusade.
Ed Miliband is ready for the battle (Image: Getty)
Ed Miliband has pledged that the UK Government will fight opponents of his clean energy revolution “all the way” as he pursues Britain’s net zero future. The Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero fired a blast at “siren voices who want to rip up clean energy projects”.
In a message to Sunday Express readers, Mr Miliband vowed he will be “relentless in our pursuit of bringing down bills for good” so Britain can “get off our dependence on fossil fuel markets controlled by dictators”.
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He claimed “fossil fuel shocks have caused half of Britain’s recessions since 1970” and said the UK must “never again be left exposed to the rollercoaster of global gas markets over which we have no control”.
Mr Miliband wants nearly all Britain’s electricity to come from low carbon sources by 2030. The goal to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050 is controversial but he made it clear he is up for a fight.
He said: “I know that some in British politics oppose this drive for clean homegrown power – siren voices who want to rip up clean energy projects, say no to the jobs they bring, and plunge the UK deeper into dependency on foreign markets. This Labour Government will fight them all the way because the British people deserve energy security now and for the future.
“Clean power offers us that security – and that is why we are relentless in pursuing it.”
Reform UK deputy leader Richard Tice shot back with a message for the Energy Secretary: “Bring on the Net Stupid Zero war, Mr Miliband. Reform will defeat you over and over you again.
“Reform will remove you from Parliament. Reform will ‘Drill, Britain, drill.’”
Conservative peer Craig Mackinlay called for Mr Miliband’s department to be closed down. He fears Britain will end up “reliant on Chinese technology with its inherent security risks and a supply chain of materials which exploits the developing world”.
He said: “There is no need to spoil what is left of natural Britain with new pylons, windmills and solar farms. There is a clear link between over-reliance on renewables and huge cost to consumers and businesses.
“How much more de-industrialisation does this government want to be responsible for? We need a wholesale reversal of energy policy.
“A starting point would be Ed Miliband and his department being closed down.”
Mr Miliband argued “every wind turbine and every piece of grid infrastructure we build helps get us off the fossil fuel rollercoaster so we can bring down bills once and for all”.
He said: “It is why we are making huge planning decisions to say Yes to new homegrown power projects such as solar and wind. Since July we have consented enough wind and solar projects to power two million homes,” adding: “Our drive for clean power is about giving our country control over our energy destiny again- and in doing so unleashing the huge jobs and wealth benefits that these new industries create.”
