Ed Miliband is poised to become the biggest beneficiary of Andy Burnham's rise to Number 10, but his appointment as Chancellor would be a disaster for the UK. Miliband's radical net zero agenda has already wrecked Aberdeen, and now he wants control of the nation's finances.
Miliband's Net Zero Madness
Miliband has brought forward the UK's carbon neutrality target from 2035 to 2030, throwing massive resources at wind turbines, solar panels, and unproven carbon capture technology. The Institute of Economic Affairs estimates the gross cost could top £9 trillion, far exceeding the UK's annual economic output of £3 trillion. Instead of cutting household bills by £300 as promised, energy costs are rising, and green jobs have failed to materialise.
Devastation in Aberdeen
Aberdeen, once known as the "Dallas of Europe," has been hammered by Miliband's ban on new North Sea oil and gas drilling. One in 10 jobs in north-east Scotland is linked to oil and gas, and Offshore Energies UK warns that the economy could lose 1,000 workers a month until 2030. House prices in Aberdeen have fallen sharply since 2014, contrasting with strong rises elsewhere in the UK.
In a recent by-election, the Conservatives won Aberdeen South by over 6,000 votes, taking 50% of the vote, while Labour managed only 5.4%. Tory leader Kemi Badenoch called it a "referendum" on North Sea oil and gas. The result was a clear rejection of Miliband's policies.
Union and Business Backlash
Unions have turned against Miliband. Sharon Graham, general secretary of Unite, called net zero an "absolute disaster zone" and demanded his removal. GMB Scotland warned of a jobs calamity. Miliband's attack on BP's profits as "morally and economically wrong" drew fury from Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce, which noted that BP's UK profits are wiped out by high taxes. BP is now considering moving its stock listing to New York, which would be a huge blow to the FTSE 100.
A Plea to Andy Burnham
Andy Burnham owes Miliband for stabbing Keir Starmer in the back, but making him Chancellor would be a catastrophic mistake. Miliband's hard-left ideology and refusal to listen to unions or business would devastate the UK economy. Burnham must look north to Aberdeen and reconsider.
