The Conservatives have renewed pressure on the Government to scrap Net Zero targets, claiming new research shows households could save more than £500 a year if Labour abandons plans to decarbonise Britain’s power grid and focuses on cheap energy instead.
Labour is aiming to make the grid 95% carbon-free by 2030. Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has vowed to get rid of the national Net Zero by 2050 target, arguing it is impossible to achieve.
What the research says
Shadow Energy Secretary Claire Coutinho is set to present findings from a report by Tory-leaning think tank Onward and advisory firm Transira Energy on Wednesday. The research compares the costs of a Net Zero electricity grid with one which prioritises cheap power through a mix of gas, more nuclear and fewer renewables.
The analysis by Onward suggested focusing on cheap power could save families £540 a year from their energy bills.
Coutinho's expected speech
In a speech, Ms Coutinho is expected to say: “Ed Miliband’s Clean Power 2030 target is intent on squeezing every last drop of carbon out of our electricity no matter the cost.
“But making electricity expensive puts electrification out of reach for ordinary families, and it’s moving our industry to more polluting countries overseas – forcing us to import back those same goods with higher emissions.
“That is not improving the climate. It is madness – especially when electrification is a far bigger prize than perfectly clean electricity when it comes to reducing emissions.”
Political context
Ed Miliband continued the country’s push towards Net Zero as Energy Secretary under Sir Keir Starmer, before being moved to the Foreign Office as Andy Burnham entered Number 10. The 2050 Net Zero target was first introduced in 2019 by Theresa May’s Conservative government.
On Tuesday, Richard Tice sparked controversy after urging people concerned about global warming to stop being “doom and gloom”, as it could see an improvement in English wine. The Reform UK deputy leader acknowledged climate change is “real”, but said there was no proof Net Zero policies would halt it – and to think it can be stopped is “arrogant”.
Instead, Mr Tice — a long-standing Net Zero critic — suggested the public should enjoy it when it gets warm, adding: “If it means that English wine and sparkling wine gets better and better, fantastic”. In July, the Met Office said that 2,700 people are thought to have died from heat-related causes during the May and June heatwaves in England and Wales.
Labour's response
In response to the Conservatives’ comments, Labour accused the party of “following Reform’s lead” in their policy direction on oil and gas, which they said would “tie Britain to the fossil fuel rollercoaster and keep bills higher for families”.
Energy Secretary Ms Fahnbulleh said: “Labour is investing in more clean energy jobs, cutting tax on electricity bills to give families breathing space this winter and we’re taking action to tackle the climate crisis and bring down bills for good. Kemi Badenoch would put jobs at risk and increase bills.
“As global fossil fuel prices continue to rise amid conflict overseas and wildfires rage across the UK, we can’t turn our back on clean power. That won’t bring down bills and it won’t address the climate crisis. The Tories don’t have a clue.”
