A union boss has slammed Labour’s net zero policies as an “absolute disaster zone”. Unite general secretary Sharon Graham took aim at Energy Secretary Ed Miliband as she warned that there has not been enough work to build new green industries to replace oil and gas.
During an interview on Sky News’s Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips programme, the host asked: “Ed Miliband’s green policies have caused you some discomfort, have you reached an accommodation with him yet?” Ms Graham replied: “No, just to be absolutely honest with you. I think that the net zero policy under Labour is an absolute disaster zone.
“What we have on the one side is that we’re stopping licences in the North Sea, we’re doing all sorts of different things in terms of what we are no longer doing.
“But on the other side we have not put a spade in the ground or money attached to building the industries that are going to replace these industries. Thirty thousand oil and gas jobs will be gone by 2030.”
Elsewhere during the interview, Ms Graham warned that Labour needs to “wake up” and “do Labour things”.
She insisted that workers are not that interested in the party’s deputy leader contest and are “scratching their heads” about the choices Labour is making under Sir Keir Starmer.
She said: “They really need to wake up, smell the coffee, and be Labour. Don’t be embarrassed to be Labour. They are a Labour Government – do Labour things.”
Asked about a possible leadership challenge from Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham, she said there was “no point” changing around the person at the top if policies stay the same.
And she said the upcoming Budget is a “critical point” for whether Unite members choose to disaffiliate from Labour.
It comes as Sir Keir rejected claims that he is in “political trouble” during an interview on the BBC’s Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg programme.
Asked whether he accepted he was in “political trouble”, the Prime Minister said: “In politics, there are always going to be comments about leaders and leadership, particularly at times like conference.
“But I always focus on what is it we’re trying to achieve.”
