Ed Miliband is facing renewed criticism from leading energy expert Dieter Helm, who has branded the Labour politician's net zero ambitions as 'deluded' and warned that his appointment as chancellor under Andy Burnham would be a disaster for the UK economy.
Expert Slams Miliband's Energy Policy
Helm, an Oxford economist and former government adviser, has published a devastating critique of Miliband's approach to energy policy. In a paper titled 'The Cost of Energy and What to Do About It', Helm argues that Miliband's promises to decarbonise Britain's electricity system by 2030 while simultaneously cutting household energy bills are not economically credible. 'Those two promises cannot both be true,' Helm said.
Helm's central argument is that renewable electricity is not as cheap as Miliband claims. He points out that the cost of generating wind and solar power is only part of the picture; the much larger bill for back-up power, storage, grid balancing, new pylons, and transmission networks means consumers pay far more than Miliband admits. 'Consumers pay the total system cost. Miliband kids us otherwise,' Helm wrote.
Impact on Industry and Jobs
Helm warns that Britain already has some of the highest industrial electricity prices in the developed world, making it impossible for manufacturers to compete. 'Closing British factories, only to import the same products from countries burning coal, doesn't reduce global emissions. It simply exports jobs while doing nothing to solve the climate crisis,' he said.
Miliband's net zero crusade is set to cost taxpayers hundreds of billions of pounds, hollow out Britain's industrial base, and drive up household energy bills. His promise to cut bills by £300 has been described as an 'outrageous fib'. Meanwhile, tens of thousands of North Sea oil and gas jobs are being destroyed, while the 600,000 green jobs Miliband has promised have not materialised.
Political Concerns
Miliband is reportedly 'desperate' to become Burnham's chancellor, and Burnham ally Louise Haigh has confirmed he is in the running, saying the two men are 'very good friends'. However, critics argue that Miliband has a history of falling out with colleagues, including his brother David Miliband and former leader Sir Keir Starmer. 'Burnham should watch his back if he's reckless enough to make Miliband the most powerful man in his government,' the article warns.
Helm's paper has been described as a 'devastating assault' on Miliband's policies, exposing not just their flaws but the 'hare-brained fanaticism' behind them. 'He's gaslighting the country while refusing to admit the true cost of what he's doing,' Helm said.
Call for Action
The article calls on Burnham to listen to experts like Helm and reject Miliband as chancellor. 'Voters rejected this lunatic in 2015, when he stood as Labour leader. Now he's snuck in by the back door. Calamity awaits,' it concludes.
