Leader of the Opposition Kier Starmer has called on the oil industry to step up its approach to clean energy, and subsidise new jobs in the renewables sector.
Speaking at a roundtable event, the Labour leader announced that key North Sea industries would be eligible for the £2.5 bn British Jobs Bonus under Labour, with initiatives that it says could create 29,000 UK jobs by 2050, and support up to 50,000 jobs in Scotland by 2030.
The event saw Kier Starmer, shadow climate secretary Ed Miliband, and Scottish Labour Leader Anas Sarwar, discuss Labour’s plans for clean energy in the future with executives in Aberdeen.
Speaking at the event, the Labour leader announced that key North Sea industries will be eligible for the British Jobs Bonus, with initiatives that it says could create 29,000 UK jobs by 2050, and support up to 50,000 jobs in Scotland by 2030.
He said: “This Conservative party has zero ambition, zero plan and zero concern for the millions of British families suffering sky-high energy bills”.
He added: “Every day that they play political games, causing uncertainty and investment risk for the sector, they are costing jobs and hitting people’s pockets. My Labour government will rise above short-termist gimmicks, put the country before our party, and deliver the long-term future of our energy industry.”
Under Labour, Aberdeen will power Britain’s clean energy future.
It was a pleasure to meet with Aberdeen’s energy industry with @Keir_Starmer and @AnasSarwar
We discussed how a Labour government will invest in the clean energy that will cut bills and make us energy secure. pic.twitter.com/YD3CRZnw4V
— Ed Miliband (@Ed_Miliband) November 17, 2023
Subscribe to Sustainability Beat for free
Sign up here to get the latest sustainability news sent straight to your inbox each morning
It follows last week’s King’s Speech, in which the prime minister announced plans to drill further in the North Sea.
However, the government has hiked the minimum price of offshore wind and announced a £370 million loan guarantee for Aberdeen site Seaway 7.
The Prime Minister Rishi Sunak previously said plans to keep drilling in the North Sea would help keep energy bills down, however this has been criticised by NGOs, and some Conservative party members including former energy minister Chris Skidmore.
Speaking to an audience of business insiders at Net Zero festival in London Chris Skidmore said of the need for a transition to a greener economy: “For me this is bigger than party politics”.
He added at the time that he wouldn’t vote for the King’s Speech if it did not honour his recommendations.