Labour has accused the government of undermining the UK energy sector and pledged to bring contracts and jobs in the industry back to Britain.
On a visit to wind turbine makers Hutchinson Engineering in Widnes, shadow secretary of state for business and energy Rebecca Long-Bailey MP outlined Labour’s plans to use investment and contracts and skills to support UK industries including energy.
The visit was part of Labour’s “Build it in Britain” campaign to support British manufacturing, which was launched by party leader Jeremy Corbyn in Birmingham a fortnight ago.
Pointing to the cancellation of the Swansea Tidal Lagoon project and cuts to support for small scale solar installations, Long-Bailey said the Conservatives had undermined Britain’s energy industry “at every turn”.
She said: “The Tories have not given our energy industry the support it needs. Our expensive and polluting energy system is reaching its sell by date, with investment falling and millions in contracts going overseas.
“At every turn, the government has undermined the energy industry and our green economy, scrapping big renewable projects, and the innovative expertise and jobs that come with them.
“Labour will build an energy system that actually delivers for businesses, workers and our environment, creating secure and high-skilled jobs, while at the same time ensuring that 60 per cent of our energy comes from zero-carbon or renewable sources by 2030.”
A spokesman for the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy defended the government’s track record of cutting carbon emissions by 40 per cent since 1990 and its commitment to support renewable energy, such as via the £557 million allocated for the sector via the contracts for difference process.