Labour pledges to ‘Build it in Britain’ and create an energy system that delivers for people, businesses and our environment; supporting manufacturing and high-skill energy jobs in Britain

Under the Tories, our energy industry has not received the support it needs, undermining Britain’s energy industry at every turn. In government the Tories have:

Rejected plans for the Swansea Tidal Lagoon project, which could have generated jobs and used UK steel.

Scrapped the Zero Carbon Homes policy.

Scrapped a £1 billion flagship programme on carbon capture and storage.

Cut support for small scale solar by 64 per cent, and overseen a collapse of new installations of 86 per cent. The same Tory cut to solar saw 12,000 jobs lost.

Offered no clarity on renewables funding before 2025, denying companies the opportunity to plan for new projects and invest.

Abolished the Department for Energy and Climate Change.

On the Tories’ watch:

Clean energy investment in the UK fell by 56 per cent in 2017.

The number of people employed in the low-carbon and renewable energy economy fell by 30,000 between 2014 and 2016- a drop of 12.5%; while turnover over the same period is down almost £1.5 billion.

Today, visiting wind turbine makers Hutchinson Engineering in Widnes, Rebecca Long Bailey MP will discuss Labour’s plans to use investment, contracts and skills to create jobs, build a fairer society, combat climate change and rebalance an economy that has become too focused on the City of London and the financial sector. The next Labour government will:

Invest in infrastructure and new green technology across each region, helping companies based here in Britain to create jobs and rebalancing the economy.

Take energy back into public ownership to deliver renewable energy, affordability for consumers, and democratic control.

Change public sector procurement rules so that government supports jobs and industry, and promotes gender equality, environmental standards and unionisation.

Rebecca Long Bailey MP, Labour’s Business Secretary, speaking ahead of the visit, part of Labour’s ‘Build it in Britain’ campaign, 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.”