Why is Ed Miliband pushing for Net Zero? (Image: PA Wire)
Net Zero is not just an environmental agenda — it’s a reckless economic experiment that is making Britain poorer.
The Government’s current target to reach Net Zero carbon emissions by 2030, spearheaded by Ed Miliband and gleefully embraced by Labour, is an exercise in economic self-destruction.
This obsession with green virtue-signalling is crippling our economy, driving up energy costs, and pushing hardworking families further into poverty.
Let’s look at the numbers. So far, £22 billion of taxpayers’ money has been spent on carbon capture initiatives, and an additional £11.6 billion has been sent abroad in foreign aid for green projects.
Meanwhile, our countryside has been scarred by vast solar and wind farms, and our reliable coal and gas-fired power stations have been systematically shut down. As a result, Britain has become increasingly dependent on importing energy from the EU — at an eye-watering cost.
Here’s the kicker, the UK contributes just 1% to global carbon emissions. Even if we were to hit Net Zero tomorrow, the impact on global temperatures would be negligible. In fact, by deindustrialising and shutting down domestic production of essentials like gas, steel, and other key resources, we’ve simply offshored our emissions.
This self-inflicted wound has driven energy prices to crippling highs for British households and businesses. At times, UK electricity has been 71% more expensive than in France, while gas prices have soared at times by a staggering 100% in recent years.
According to Ofgem chief executive Jonathan Brearley, the UK’s gas storage levels remain “historically low”, leaving families squeezed harder than ever and businesses facing impossible choices to either raise prices for consumers, shut their doors for good, or relocate to countries with more sensible energy policies.
Labour’s green agenda has only accelerated this national nose-dive. Miliband’s crusade for Net Zero at any cost has trashed our economy while delivering negligible environmental benefits.
Worse still, the policies driving us toward net zero are actively harming our energy security. By prioritising unreliable renewables like wind and solar over dependable sources like coal and gas, we’ve left ourselves vulnerable to volatile international markets. Every time the wind doesn’t blow or the sun doesn’t shine, Britain pays the price.
The financial burden of this green obsession is staggering. The average Brit is paying more for energy, food, and goods — all thanks to misguided policies that prioritise environmental posturing over economic common sense. Businesses that could be thriving are either shutting down or moving abroad, taking jobs and investment with them.
The result? A weaker economy, higher unemployment, and a cost-of-living crisis that shows no sign of abating. So why does the government persist with this madness? The answer is simple: virtue signalling.
Ed Miliband and his Labour colleagues are more concerned with their image on the world stage than the real-world consequences for British families.
They parade their green credentials at international summits while ignoring the suffering their policies cause at home.
The irony is glaring. By pursuing Net Zero at breakneck speed, we’re not just impoverishing our own people — we’re also driving up global emissions. Britain’s deindustrialisation means we’re outsourcing carbon-heavy industries to countries like China and India, where emissions are far higher.
In short, Labour’s green agenda isn’t just bad for Britain — it’s bad for the planet.
It’s time to put the brakes on this net zero madness. Britain needs an energy policy that prioritises affordability, security, and economic growth. We need to rebuild our domestic industries, invest in reliable energy sources, and stop exporting our emissions and jobs abroad.
Net Zero should be an aspiration, not an economic death sentence. The current approach is a betrayal of hardworking families, struggling businesses, and the very principles of common sense.
Labour is so proud of driving Britain off a cliff.
It’s time to put the Great British people first and ditch the net zero madness before it’s too late!
Richard Thomson was the Reform UK candidate for Braintree in the 2024 General Election and served eight years as a Royal Marine