Energy will be part of Ed Miliband’s remit in his reshaped portfolio as shadow secretary of state of climate change and net zero.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer announced on Monday (29 November) that as part of his wide-ranging shadow cabinet reshuffle, Miliband will move from shadow secretary for business, energy and industrial strategy (BEIS) to take the new role.
The ex-Labour leader will lead on the climate change aspects of the BEIS brief. These will include Labour’s Green New Deal, the transformation of energy system, climate investment and a net zero industrial strategy.
The business aspect of his previous portfolio has been handed to Jonathan Reynolds, who was shadow secretary of state for work and pensions until Monday.
The reshuffle also saw Jim McMahon replace Luke Pollard, who has left the shadow cabinet, as shadow secretary of state for the environment, food and rural affairs.
In a statement on Twitter, Miliband welcomed the creation of the dedicated net zero portfolio, which if translated into government would recreate the Department of Energy and Climate Change that Miliband headed before Labour lost power in 2010.
He wrote: “I came back to frontline politics because tackling the climate emergency is the most important issue we face. We need a Labour government with a dedicated department to decarbonise our economy and deliver climate justice and economic justice together. That’s the work I’ll lead.”
Starmer said: “Climate change is the most important issue facing this country over the next decade. Ed Miliband will lead in the shadow cabinet to develop Labour’s extensive plans for net zero in a first term Labour government and hold the government to account for its failure to take action. Ed has a proven track record in government, and is a powerful, internationally well-respected voice on the issue, and that’s why I am delighted he has agreed to lead on this.”
The move to create a dedicated climate change portfolio follows tensions between Miliband and Starmer over the extent of public ownership in the energy sector.