Ed Miliband responds to government plans for blackouts this winter

Ed Miliband MP, Labour’s Shadow Secretary for Climate Change and Net Zero, responding to the UK government planning for several days of organised blackouts this winter for industry and households, said:

“Whilst the Tories squabble over tax cuts, Britain is now readying itself for catastrophic power cuts this winter. This is a complete disgrace to a British public already struggling at the hands of an absent government that has left our economy in tatters. What we are faced with is the result of 12 years of Tory government which has failed to prepare and refused to invest, leaving bills higher and our country less secure.

“Instead of mending the roof while the sun was shining, they cut back on the things that would be protecting families and businesses now: scrapping all home insulation programmes, blocking the cheapest, home-grown energy like onshore wind and solar, and shutting down our remaining gas storage.

“Labour would upgrade 19 million draughty homes to reduce energy demand and massively accelerate the renewable rollout with a green energy sprint, to strengthen our energy security and cut bills for good.”