Union leader voices concern that Ed Miliband's net-zero plans may lead to power outages
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Gary Smith, the head honcho of one of Labour's biggest union supporters, has put Sir Keir Starmer on notice, telling him to disregard the "wacky preachers of climate dogmatism" and reconsider the current net-zero timeline.
Writing it up for The Times, Smith, GMB's General Secretary, cautioned that the government's vow to move to clean power by 2030 could lead to blackouts akin to those recently experienced in Spain and Portugal.
Smith also stated that prohibiting future North Sea oil and gas exploration licenses would hasten the decline of domestic oil and gas production and increase our reliance on imported gas.
Unions have grown increasingly critical of environmental policies that don't include substantial investment to ensure job security.
The latest jab comes after a call from former Labour prime minister Sir Tony Blair to readjust net-zero strategies.
Sharon Graham, Unite's general secretary, stated last month that the union was not against net-zero, but it wouldn't be achieved without significant investment in new employment opportunities.
"Unite is not against net-zero, but it will not materialize without serious investment in new jobs," Graham said. "Unite has repeatedly warned that all the talk about a connected industrial strategy and future jobs must be backed up with tangible investment that delivers. What is Labour waiting for? The time to act is now."
Smith's remarks are seen as the latest dig at energy secretary Ed Miliband, with whom he has previously clashed over the decarbonization of the North Sea oil and gas industry.
Smith described Spain's recent grid failure as a "massive wake-up call" for ministers, asking, "I'd like to think our government, at all levels, was asking the critical question, 'What if this happens to us?' Because it could."
He added, "The real questions are about national energy resilience and the security of supply, and how both should be the focus of net-zero plans. My union believes the current trajectory risks putting the energy cart before the industrial horse."
Smith also restated his criticism of the government's ban on North Sea oil and gas exploration licenses, arguing that the Dutch are ramping up gas production in response to rising demand.
"Like the Netherlands, four out of five UK households rely on gas for heating. But the government here remains committed to banning future North Sea exploration and production licenses," he wrote.
"This will only accelerate the decline of domestic oil and gas production and increase our reliance on gas imports. Across society, bill-payers will question why they are subsidizing a domestic clean power sprint that is offshoring UK jobs and value."
The government has yet to respond to these comments.
- Gary Smith, the General Secretary of GMB, warned that the government's commitment to transition to clean power by 2030 could lead to power outages similar to those recently experienced in Spain and Portugal.
- Smith also criticized the prohibition of future North Sea oil and gas exploration licenses, stating that it would hasten the decline of domestic oil and gas production and increase reliance on imported gas.
- Unions, including Unite and GMB, have expanded their criticism towards environmental policies that don't include substantial investment for job security.
- Sir Tony Blair recently called for a revision of net-zero strategies, adding to the debate on the approach to combating climate change within the Labour Party.
- Sharon Graham, Unite's general secretary, previously stated that the union supports net-zero but requires significant investment in new employment opportunities to achieve it.
- Smith expressed concern over the current trajectory of net-zero plans, stating that it risks prioritizing energy production over industrial strategy, which could negatively impact job security and energy resilience in the UK.
