Labour vow to make UK 'clean energy superpower' will support 500,000 jobs, party claims

03 June 2023 , 21:30

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Keir Starmer will this week focus on Labour's plans to turn Britain into a 'clean energy superpower' (Image: PA)

Labour has claimed a vow to make Britain a "clean energy superpower" will help support around half a million jobs by 2030 if the party wins the next general election.

It will see new jobs for plumbers, electricians, engineers and technicians to work on projects aiming to reduce the use of fossil fuels and tackle the climate emergency.

The party said its proposals will also free the country from the reliance on rulers like Russia's Vladimir Putin, whose brutal war in Ukraine caused energy prices to spiral.

It comes as Keir Starmer shifts the focus onto another one of his five "missions" for a Labour Government, with plans to make the UK a "clean energy superpower".

Mr Starmer, who is expected to address the issue during a speech at the GMB union conference on Tuesday, last year pledged to establish 'Great British Energy'.

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Shadow Climate Change Secretary Ed Miliband says Labour's plans will slash energy bills (Getty Images)

The publicly owned energy company alongside plans to double onshore windfarms and triple solar power resources will be integral to cleaning up the UK's energy.

Labour said its proposed national wealth fund - of £8billion over the next decade - will support eight new battery factories, six clean steel plants, and nine renewable-ready ports.

According to the party's analysis, its plans will support the creation of over 200,000 direct jobs and up to 300,000 indirect jobs within seven years if they win power.

Labour's Shadow Climate Change Secretary Ed Miliband said: "Labour will make Britain a clean energy superpower - not only so we can slash energy bills and deliver energy security - but also so we can rebuild Britain's industrial heartlands with high quality jobs."

He added: “For too long, the Conservatives and SNPs have let over countries get ahead in the race for the green jobs of the future.

"Britain can win this global race- building new opportunities for our construction industry, our engineers, and our electricians- but we are being let down by a Conservative government that is left behind in the changing room.

“Only Labour can make Britain a clean energy superpower to cut bills and create good jobs, with our plan for a clean power system by 2030, and with GB Energy, our publicly-owned energy company to produce homegrown power for the British people.”

Ashley Cowburn