08 October 2023 , 16:00
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Britain will never again be held to ransom by Vladimir Putin under Labour ’s plan for green power, Ed Miliband will vow.
The Shadow Cabinet minister will announce an Energy Independence Act designed to shield the country from external shocks and cut costs for consumers. The law will also establish Great British Energy - Labour's publicly-owned energy company run on clean power - announced by Keir Starmer last year.
In his keynote speech today on Monday, Mr Miliband will attack the Tory record and say: “You’re paying record energy bills because they left us exposed to Putin’s war. "Every time the Tories turn their back on a clean energy future, they leave us more exposed to fossil fuel dictators, driving up bills and making Britain weak."
The Shadow Energy and Net Zero Secretary will add: "In the 20th century through North sea oil, Britain powered the world and controlled our destiny.
"In the 21st century, with Labour, Britain will be an energy superpower once again, exporting clean power to the world and controlling our destiny. British families and business never again held to ransom by Putin".
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Labour said the Energy Independence Act would put in place the reforms needed to make the UK electricity system fully based on clean power by 2030 with the largest expansion of renewable power in the country’s history. If the party wins power the new law would also establish the party's national wealth fund to invest billions in green businesses.
It would also begin the process of creating GB energy, which Mr Starmer said last year it would provide "energy independence from tyrants like Putin". Mr Starmer told the party's conference in 2022 the publicly owned company will be set up within the first year of a Labour government if he defeats the Tories at the next general election.
Former Labour leader Mr Miliband will also use his speech on Monday to attack Rishi Sunak's "anti-prosperity" approach to net zero just weeks after the PM shelved key commitments, including a ban on the sale of new diesel and petrol cars in 2030.
He will say: "“These Tories want a fight about who can tackle the cost of living crisis, we say bring it on. These Tories want a fight about who can ensure energy independence in our country, we say bring it on. "These Tories want a fight about who can stand up for working people, we say bring it on. The Tories' climate culture war is not just anti-planet; it’s anti-prosperity, anti-growth, anti-business, anti-worker, anti-jobs, anti-young people, anti-future."
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