Shadow climate change secretary Ed Miliband has ridiculed the new business secretary Jacob Brisbane-Mogg as “19th century” and accused him of spreading “dangerous climate denial”.
Speaking at the Labour Party conference in Liverpool yesterday, Miliband added that a Labour government would make the UK the first major country in the world to set and achieve a goal of zero-carbon electricity by 2030.
Mr Miliband criticised the UK government’s decision to open the door to fracking and blasted Mr Rees-Mogg for proposing “energy policy in the 1820s”.
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He told Labour representatives at the exhibition centre: “One said we should extract ‘every drop’ of oil and gas, even if it meant three degrees of global warming.
“One says ‘trying to predict climate is unrealistic and potentially unaffordable’. Let’s call it this: This is dangerous climate denial.
He added: “If you want energy policy in the 1820s, Jacob Rees-Mogg is for you. If you want a government in the 2020s, we need a Labour government.”
Miliband said a Labour government would make the UK a “clean energy superpower” and stressed the low costs of solar and wind.
He said: “That’s why, on bills, security and climate, I am proud to announce that a Labour government will make the UK the first major country in the world to set and achieve a zero-carbon electricity target by 2030.
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“A vital foundation for achieving net zero. The UK is a clean energy superpower. £93bn bill savings.
“We will do this by sweeping away the Tory dogma that holds our country back. It’s within our grasp. Isn’t it?”
Ed Miliband also criticised the government’s decision to open the door to fracking, telling delegates: “The Conservatives banned fracking in 2019 because they said it was dangerous.
“Now they’ve moved the goalposts: under the Tories – and I’m not making this up – a moderate earthquake would be fine.
“Let every Conservative MP and candidate be asked: What’s your position on dangerous, expensive fracking? What’s your position on breaking your manifesto promises?”
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He added: “Let them try to sell their earthquake charters to the people of Lancashire, Yorkshire, the Midlands and the communities of our country. We will hold them accountable on behalf of the British people.”
Mr Miliband was not the only shadow cabinet minister to criticise Mr Rees-Mogg in his conference speech on Monday morning.
Shadow business secretary Jonathan Reynolds came to power after the former Labour leader to launch the party’s industrial strategy.
He said: “In the face of the energy crisis, the business investment crisis, the climate crisis, who do they choose to meet these challenges? Jacob Rees-Mogg.
“One newspaper said he was better suited to run a museum than a business unit. Frankly, museums are too important for that.”
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Martina Bet and Richard Wheeler are PA political staff reporters.
