UK (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Energy Secretary Ed Miliband faces backlash over plans to rebrand plumbers, electricians, and welders as “clean energy” workers in the net-zero push.
As reported by The Telegraph, Ed Miliband comes under fire for attempting to label plumbers, electricians, and welders as part of the clean energy workforce.
The Energy Secretary said new trainees in trades like plumbing and electrical work are essential to Britain’s net-zero goal.
What did Claire Coutinho say about Ed Miliband’s green jobs claims?
Shadow Energy Secretary Claire Coutinho slammed Ed Miliband for trying to exaggerate “clean energy” job figures to support net zero claims.
She stated,
“Fudging the numbers is Ed Miliband’s signature move. We’ve already seen jobs in waste and recycling or environmental charities being classified as ‘green jobs’ to boost the numbers, but these aren’t clean energy jobs.”
Ms Coutinho added,
“Rather than getting the truth, he just wants to inflate numbers to back up his ideological approach to net zero, which is pushing up everyone’s energy bills and making people poorer.”
What did Richard Tice say about Ed Miliband’s green jobs plan?
The Reform UK energy spokesman, Richard Tice, accused Ed Miliband of using the rebrand as a “desperate attempt” to make it appear he is creating green jobs.
He added,
“The British people will not be conned that a plumber is a green job.”
What did Ed Miliband say about clean energy jobs and training plans?
Ed Miliband stated,
“Communities have long been calling out for a new generation of good industrial jobs. The clean energy jobs boom can answer that call – and today we publish a landmark national plan to make it happen.”
The former Labour leader pledged to establish five technical “clean energy” colleges to train young people for the sector.
The Energy Secretary said Britain’s clean energy workforce will rise to 860,000 by 2030, with roles needed for projects including Sizewell C and the Viking wind farm in Shetland.
The proposals are part of a broader plan to deliver 600,000 jobs in critical sectors, including construction, cyber, defence, and energy, reducing reliance on foreign workers.
Mr Miliband described the new jobs scheme as an opportunity to revitalise large parts of the UK economy.
Recently, he approved the Tillbridge solar farm in Lincolnshire, which will be the UK’s largest, covering land equivalent to 2,000 football pitches.
Mr Miliband added,
“Our plans will help create an economy in which there is no need to leave your hometown just to find a decent job. Thanks to this Government’s commitment to clean energy, a generation of young people in our industrial heartlands can have well-paid secure jobs, from plumbers to electricians and welders. This is a pro-worker, pro-jobs, pro-union agenda that will deliver the national renewal our country needs.”
What did Pat McFadden say about technical colleges and skills investment?
The Work and Pensions Secretary, Pat McFadden, said the new “technical excellence” colleges will be launched nationwide to provide young people with more training and opportunities.
He said,
“Our country’s future depends on the skills of its people but we have become too reliant on overseas labour to fill shortages.”
Mr McFadden added,
“That’s why we’re investing £1 billion to train the next generation of engineers, construction workers and cyber experts.”
How will rising green levies affect Ed Miliband’s job and bill promises?
According to energy companies, increasing green levies could push household energy bills up by hundreds of pounds by 2030.
Octopus Energy warned that rising green levies, combined with system and grid costs, could increase household energy bills. Rachel Fletcher, Director of Regulation for Octopus Energy, pointed out that everything on a bill that isn’t related to wholesale costs – costs for running the system and building more grid, as well as government policies – could lead to a ‘£300 upward pressure’. Adding that despite the expected reduction in wholesale costs, net bills could still increase by about £170 or around a +19% increase.
The rise in costs raises doubts over whether Ed Miliband can deliver on his promise to cut bills by £300, with green energy central to his plans. Questions remain over the ability of energy firms to deliver the number of jobs promised by the government.
Juergen Maier, head of GB Energy, said it could take 20 years to create 1,000 jobs at its Scottish HQ, despite Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s pledge.
Ed Miliband’s views on Maccabi Tel Aviv fans attending the Aston Villa match
Ed Miliband said the government is working with authorities to address the West Midlands’ decision to bar Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from next month’s Aston Villa match.
He said,
“We are working with the relevant authorities on this issue. We do not want a situation where people of a particular faith or from a particular country can’t come to a football match because of their faith, because of where they’re coming from.”
Mr Miliband stated,
“And so the best outcome, the outcome we want to see, is that this match goes ahead as normal, with all of the fans there.”
He added,
“I’m not going to say come what may, but I’m giving you a very, very clear indication of what we are working towards, which is that, you know, the fans from both teams can attend the match.”
When questioned about whether antisemitism played a role in the ban, Mr Miliband declined to comment directly on the petition, saying,
“I think the reason why Keir Starmer and others were right to call this out is we can never have a situation where people, because they happen to support an Israeli team and obviously, you know, many of them will be Jewish, are kind of barred from coming to the UK or barred from supporting their team.”
