19 January 2023 , 14:32
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Keir Starmer has lashed out at Rishi Sunak for swerving a meeting of world leaders - saying under his watch the UK will take the lead in driving down global energy prices.
The Labour leader said politicians and business chiefs he had spoken to were surprised Mr Sunak had chosen not to attend the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
More than 50 heads of states have converged on the Alpine resort for crunch talks - and Mr Starmer said a Labour government would lead a global clean energy alliance.
He told a forum meeting this afternoon that the PM's absence was evidence of a "drift" which is putting investors off the UK.
Mr Starmer said: "I think our Prime Minister should have showed up, I absolutely do."
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Keir Starmer lashed out at the PM for not attending the World Economic Forum (Sky News)He continued: "One of the things that's been impressed on me since I've been here has been the absence of the United Kingdom.
"That's why it's important I'm here and our Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves is here as a statement of intent that should there be a change of government - and I hope there will be - the UK will play its part on a global stage in a way it hasn't in recent years."
He outlined plans for a new clean power alliance, which he described as an 'inverse OPEC' - referring to the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, which aims to keep petrol prices stable.
Mr Starmer said: "One of the things that I am proposing is a clean power alliance where countries that are in the advanced when it comes to net zero share information, co-operate and share investment with a view to driving the global prices down.
Mr Starmer said his attendance alongside Rachel Reeves is a 'statement of intent' (AFP via Getty Images)"So, this is an inverse Opec, if you like. Instead of trying to ensure prices stay at a certain level, it's to drive them down, to see the common benefit, whether it's in the UK or across the globe.
"If we could get that alliance working together, then I think that will be a big step in the right direction."
He pledged that under his leadership there would be no new investment in oil and gas - but admitted there would have to be a transition.
"What we've said about oil and gas is there does need to be a transition," he stated.
"Obviously, it will play its part during that transition, but not new investment, not new fields up in the North Sea, because we need to go towards net zero, we need to ensure that renewable energy is where we go next.
The Labour leader outlined plans for a global energy alliance (Sky News)"There's huge potential for this in the UK. In terms of wind and offshore wind, we're already developing that at speed. We need onshore wind to go with it, so that we have a combination that, as I say, brings the prices down, gets us off the international reliance on oil and gas, and with it gives us the next generation of jobs and deals with the climate crisis."
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Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch and Business Secretary Grant Shapps are representing the UK government at the event.
Last night Ms Reeves said: “With Labour in government, Britain will be open for business. We have the ambition and the practical ideas to have our country lead on the global stage again, especially in those green industries of the future that are so vital for our energy security.
“We will restore economic growth to the UK, improving living standards and creating jobs, and bring global investors back to drive our economy forwards – all built on the rock of economic stability and certainty.