Ed Miliband's 'mad rush' to clean power risks raising bills, Tories warn

Former energy security and net zero minister Graham Stuart MP said: "Britain needs ambitious, but realistic and affordable action on climate change. But Milliband’s unachievable, arbitrary 2030 clean power target will completely undermine decarbonisation and raise bills.

"Voters want to tackle climate change, but not at the expense of crippling Britain. No other country will follow our lead unless we can bring down our sky-high electricity prices. Our nation is burdened with crippling energy costs that are hurting households, ruining businesses, and damaging the drive to decarbonise. We have to marry climate action with economic success.

Tory MP Harriet Cross said: "The Clean Power 2030 target is a misjudged, counterproductive target that is burdening Britain while doing nothing to solve climate change. He will not hit this impossible timeline, but in trying to achieve it, Miliband will hike energy bills, see tens of thousands of North Sea oil and gas jobs put at risk, lose much needed current investment streams abroad and override the concerns of local communities.

"Only by dropping the 2030 target can we restore an affordable and credible approach to the energy transition.”

Elinor Bale, climate programme manager at the Conservative Environment added that tackling climate change is vital for the UK’s security and prosperity but must be grounded in credible, pragmatic solutions.

Mr Miliband labelled a dependence on fossil fuels as the UK’s energy “Achilles heel”.

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