Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Miliband blasts Farage and Tories for turning net zero into a ‘culture war’

The energy secretary appealed for cross-party unity on net zero just hours after it was revealed Nigel Farage and Liz Truss attended the launch of a climate change denying lobby group

David Maddox
Political editor
Wednesday 15 January 2025 17:55 GMT
Comments
Ed Miliband speaks to the energy and net zero committee
Ed Miliband speaks to the energy and net zero committee (Parliament TV)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Ed Miliband has attacked politicians who are trying to turn the net zero debate “into a culture war issue” and warned that the British public would not forgive them.

The energy secretary was making his first appearance since the election in front of the Commons energy and net zero committee to explain some of the decisions he has made to push the decarbonising agenda.

But his session before MPs came in the wake of leading figures on the right including Nigel Farage and former prime minister Liz Truss appearing at the launch of a climate change denial lobby group.

The two were seen at the event for the Heartland Institute, a US-based lobby group that has previously made extreme statements expressing scepticism of climate change, launched its UK-EU branch last month, based in London.

Ed Miliband speaks to the energy and net zero committee
Ed Miliband speaks to the energy and net zero committee (Parliament TV)

Both Farage and Truss along with their supporters have attacked attempts to bring down CO2 levels and prevent climate change including the push for electric cars and end of dependence on gas.

Mr Farage has taken similar lines to his friend and ally president-elect Donald Trump who has described net zero as “a hoax”.

Mr Miliband went out of his way to praise senior Tories like for COP28 chairman Lord Alok Sharma and former prime minister Theresa May for being part of the cross party consensus in trying to achieve net zero.

Mrs May was the guest speaker at a major conference in New York organised by The Independent last year where she denounced the climate change deniars including Farage and Trump.

However, Labour have been critical of Rishi Sunak watering down net zero policies when he was prime minister and comments made on the issue by Kemi Badenoch.

Addressing MPs in his opening remarks, Mr Miliband insisted that his policies to allow offshore windfarms, more solar panels on agricultural fields and end use of fossil fuels is to protectworking people “from the rollercoasterof fossil fuel markets”and reliance on autocratic regimes which mostly control supply.

But he warned that if the UK is to tackle the climate crisis it will require political consensus.

Farage was guest of honour at the lobby group launch
Farage was guest of honour at the lobby group launch (The Heartland Institute)

He said: “The climate crisis is not just some theoretical prospect but something we see playing out around us not least in the devastating scenes in Los Angeles.”

Mr Miliband went on: “People will look back at this time and ask if we acted with the urgency this situation demanded.

“It is right to say that there are people who oppose our mission. Siren voices wh would defend the status quo despite the disastrous effects that it has had on the British people. Who say it would be better gambling on our fossil fuel markets. Ihave to saythat would be a betrayal of British working people and leave our country exposed.”

He added: “As I reflect on addressing these issues around climate and energy over the last 18 years, I actually think this country has been at best when we have worked across party on these issues. The gains we have made have been across parties. I want to work with people across political parties where we can.

“I don’t think the British people want this issue to be turned into a culture war issue.”

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in