As we head towards a new political landscape, our Barbour writing team will pick out the key policies, pledges and manifesto talking points from all the main political parties that are going to affect you. We'll keep you in the loop leading up to the General Election, and after it, so you won't miss a thing!
The Labour Party manifesto discusses a number of clear pledges, including the publicly owned Great British Energy, accelerating plans for net zero, special measures for failing water companies, as well as commitments to CBAM and Martyn's Law.
Make Britain a clean energy superpower
Labour proposes to make Britain a clean energy superpower and in turn, cut bills, create jobs and deliver security with cheaper, zero-carbon electricity by 2030, accelerating to net zero. In order to do this, they will:
Clean power by 2030
To achieve clean power by 2030, Labour MPs intend to double onshore wind, triple solar power, and quadruple offshore wind. In addition, they will invest in carbon capture and storage, hydrogen and marine energy, and ensure the long-term energy storage necessary. A new Energy Independence Act will establish the framework for Labour’s energy and climate policies.
In terms of nuclear power, they will ensure the long-term security of the sector, extending the lifetime of existing plants, and get Hinkley Point C over the line. New nuclear power stations, such as Sizewell C, and Small Modular Reactors, will play an important role in their plan to help the UK achieve energy security and clean power while securing thousands of good, skilled jobs.
Labour will maintain a strategic reserve of gas power stations to guarantee security of supply. They will ensure a phased and responsible transition in the North Sea. They will embrace the future of energy production and storage which will make use of existing offshore infrastructure and the skills of our offshore workforce. They will not revoke existing licences and they will partner with business and workers to manage our existing fields for the entirety of their lifespan.
Fracking will be banned for good and new licences to explore new fields will not be issued as well as coal licences. Labour will also close the loopholes in the windfall tax on oil and gas companies.
Switch on Great British Energy
Labour proposes to set up a a publicly-owned clean power company called Great British Energy which will cut bills, boost energy security and be paid for by a windfall tax on oil and gas giants. It will be capitalised with £8.3 billion over the next parliament. It will partner with industry and trade unions to deliver clean power by co-investing in leading technologies; will help support capital-intensive projects; and will deploy local energy production to benefit communities across the country.
Energy system reform
The manifesto plans to reduce standing charges and strengthen the regulator to ensure it can hold companies to account for wrongdoing, require higher standards of performance, and ensure there is automatic customer compensation for failure.
Labour MPs will work with industry to upgrade the national transmission infrastructure and rewire Britain.
High-quality jobs
Labour intends to create new high-quality jobs, working with business and trade unions. They will rebuild supply chains at home and export the technologies of the future.
Labour’s National Wealth Fund will directly invest in ports, hydrogen and industrial clusters in every corner of the country. They will also secure the future of Britain’s automotive and steel industries.
Clean energy developers will be rewarded with a British Jobs Bonus with allocations of up to £500 million per year from 2026, to incentivise firms who offer good jobs, terms and conditions and build their manufacturing supply chains in the industrial heartlands, coastal areas, and energy communities.
Warm homes plan
Labour will invest an extra £6.6 billion over the next parliament, doubling the existing planned government investment, to upgrade five million homes to cut bills for families.
The Warm Homes Plan will offer grants and low interest loans to support investment in insulation and other improvements such as solar panels, batteries and low carbon heating to cut bills. They will also work with the private sector, including banks and building societies, to provide further private finance to accelerate home upgrades and low carbon heating. Labour will ensure homes in the private rented sector meet minimum energy efficiency standards by 2030, saving renters hundreds of pounds per year.
Accelerating to net zero
The manifesto supports the introduction of a carbon border adjustment measurement (CBAM) which will protect British industries as Britain decarbonises, prevent countries from dumping lower-quality goods into British markets, and support the UK to meet climate objectives. Labour seeks to make the UK the green finance capital of the world, mandating UK-regulated financial institutions – including banks, asset managers, pension funds, and insurers – and FTSE 100 companies to develop and implement credible transition plans that align with the 1.5°C goal of the Paris Agreement.
Protecting nature
In order to improve reasonable access to nature, they will create nine new National River Walks, one in each region of England, and establish three new National Forests in England, whilst planting millions of trees and creating new woodlands. Labour will expand nature-rich habitats such as wetlands, peat bogs and forests so families can explore and wildlife can thrive, including on public land. They also intend to commit to reducing waste by moving to a circular economy.
Clean water
Labour will put failing water companies under special measures to clean up our water by giving regulators new powers to block the payment of bonuses to executives who pollute waterways and bring criminal charges against persistent law breakers. Automatic and severe fines will be imposed for wrongdoing and independent monitoring will be ensured at every outlet.
Supporting British farmers
According to the manifesto, they will set a target for half of all food purchased across the public sector to be locally produced or certified to higher environmental standards. Labour will also introduce a land-use framework and make environment land management schemes work for farmers and nature and work with farmers and scientists on measures to eradicate Bovine TB, protecting livelihoods, so that we can end the ineffective badger cull.
Martyn's Law
Terrorism remains a significant threat. Labour will bring in "Martyn’s Law" to strengthen the security of public events and venues.
In addition, they will update the rules around counter- extremism, including online, to stop people being radicalised and drawn towards hateful ideologies.
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