MP, Labour’s Shadow Secretary of State of Climate
Change and Net Zero, responding to the Government’s
energy relaunch, said:
“The Government’s energy relaunch is in disarray. has completely caved to his
own backbenchers and now, ludicrously, his own energy strategy
has failed on the sprint we needed on onshore wind and solar- the
cheapest, cleanest forms of homegrown power.
“This relaunch will do nothing for the millions of families now
facing an energy bills crisis. No reversal of the ban on onshore
wind and not a penny more on energy efficiency. These decisions
will force households to pay hundreds of pounds more for their
energy bills and keep the UK dependent on imported gas for
longer.
“After 12 years in government, families are paying the price of
Conservative failure. This relaunch won’t cut bills, won’t
deliver energy independence, and won’t tackle the climate crisis.
Labour would deliver a green energy sprint. This government just
cannot deliver.”
Gary Smith, GMB General Secretary, said:
“Looking beyond the ‘aims’ and ‘ambitions’ of this plan,
there are serious questions about the worrying lack of specific
commitments on UK jobs.
“Lofty promises of tens of thousands of jobs in offshore wind
just don’t stack up when the UK continues to award vital new
projects to companies based in authoritarian regimes.
“The UK should be building this energy future, not surrendering
it to other nations.
“At least the government has finally woken up to what GMB has
been saying for years: new reactors are the only way we can
secure the UK's energy security and there can be no net zero
without new nuclear.
“We need clarity on the new reactors, SMRs and their supply
chains, so that jobs are created at home and not shipped
overseas.
“After years of dither and delay, it’s time to get on with it and
put spades in the ground.”
Green Party co-leader Adrian Ramsay said: “This
is an energy strategy that does not serve the needs of people or
the climate.
“We are in the middle of a cost of living crisis and a climate
crisis, but this strategy is not being driven by the interests of
those who can’t afford to heat their homes, or those of future
generations. Instead it is being driven by the interests of
Conservative MPs who want to see ‘every lost drop’ of North Sea
oil drained, as Jacob Rees Mogg said just this week.
“If the government was concerned about energy bills and taking
real climate action, it would be going even further in onshore
wind. We need to see wind provide as much as 70% of the UK’s
electricity by 2030, yet the government’s strategy would only
achieve 25%.
“Even more concerning is the complete lack of any mention of
energy efficiency measures. A mass insulation programme would see
bills reduced dramatically, and ensure people had warm,
comfortable homes, while also tackling the climate crisis and
reducing our reliance on fossil fuels altogether.”
Rebecca Newsom, head of politics at Greenpeace
UK, said: “This strategy
comprehensively fails to stand up to Putin’s violence, to take
the sting out of soaring energy bills, or take control of the
spiralling climate crisis.
“The government could have chosen to power ahead with quick,
cost-effective and fair solutions like taxing oil and gas
companies’ mega-profits, investing more to cut energy waste from
homes, and unblocking planning barriers for cheap and popular
onshore wind.
“Instead, while there are some improvements on renewables
targets, they have prioritised slow solutions, dishing out
rewards to vested interests in the nuclear and the oil and gas
industries, which won't tackle the cost of living crisis or
reduce our dependence on gas.
“Johnson seems easily distracted from the straightforward
solutions, while Sunak appears to be an active block. Does Sunak
not get it, or does he not care? It’s hard to know which is
worse.”
