Monday 26 September 2022

Starmer looks to hit net zero by 2030 if elected

Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer has stated his desire to make the UK hitting net zero by 2030 a priority if he is elected as the next Prime Minister.

He has described the goal as “absolutely doable” although did concede that it will be “difficult.”

Labour is looking to make the country the first major economy worldwide to generate all electricity without the use of fossil fuels – although an emergency 0.7% capacity of fossil fuels would be kept available in case of emergency needs.

Prime Minister Liz Truss has stated her desire to make the UK a net exporter of energy by 2040 – although a return to fracking and more North Sea oil and gas exploration have also been announced.

Leaving the blame at the door of the Conservative Party for the UK’s current economic situation, Starmer said he agreed with Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng’s verdict of there being a “vicious cycle of stagnation.”

On this, he stated: “[Mr Kwarteng] is right about that and it’s their vicious cycle of stagnation. That is the verdict on 12 years of Tory government, a vicious cycle of stagnation and we need to hang that around their necks.”

Labour is hopeful that a pledge to a greener Britain can secure votes and bring the party back into power.

Starmer explained: “Our plan for clean power by 2030 will save the British people £93 billion off their energy bills and break the UK's vulnerability to Putin and his cronies. It will also support our drive for higher growth and rising living standards.”

The party plans to spend £28 billion per year to make the UK economy greener and more renewables focussed.