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Labour unveils National Grid takeover plan | |
(32 minutes later) | |
The Labour Party is unveiling plans to take the National Grid into public ownership. | |
It wants to create a National Energy Agency to own and maintain transmission infrastructure. | |
Labour said its nationalisation pledge would "usher in a Green Industrial Revolution" and tackle climate change. | Labour said its nationalisation pledge would "usher in a Green Industrial Revolution" and tackle climate change. |
But National Grid - the UK's largest transmitter of electricity and gas - said the proposal was the "last thing" that was needed. | But National Grid - the UK's largest transmitter of electricity and gas - said the proposal was the "last thing" that was needed. |
It said the Labour plan would hinder the shift to green energy. | |
Labour also set out plans to put solar panels on nearly two million homes. | Labour also set out plans to put solar panels on nearly two million homes. |
Its proposals are contained in a document entitled Bringing Energy Home, due to be presented on Thursday by leader Jeremy Corbyn and Rebecca Long-Bailey, shadow energy secretary. | Its proposals are contained in a document entitled Bringing Energy Home, due to be presented on Thursday by leader Jeremy Corbyn and Rebecca Long-Bailey, shadow energy secretary. |
Installing solar plans on social homes and those with low-incomes is part of Labour's plan to "usher in a Green Industrial Revolution in housing, transport and industry - creating over 400,000 jobs and tackling climate change". | Installing solar plans on social homes and those with low-incomes is part of Labour's plan to "usher in a Green Industrial Revolution in housing, transport and industry - creating over 400,000 jobs and tackling climate change". |
Labour said the solar panels would reduce fuel bills, and that it would also offer interest free loans, grants and make changes to regulations to help an additional 750,000 properties install solar panels. | Labour said the solar panels would reduce fuel bills, and that it would also offer interest free loans, grants and make changes to regulations to help an additional 750,000 properties install solar panels. |
Unused electricity would be used by the National Grid, which would be nationalised. | Unused electricity would be used by the National Grid, which would be nationalised. |
"Energy networks that are owned by the public and responsive to the public interest will be able to prioritise tackling climate change, fuel poverty and security of supply over profit extraction, while working with energy unions to support energy workers through the transition," Labour said. | |
But National Grid said the plan would "delay the huge amount of progress and investment that is already helping to make this country a leader in the move to green energy". | |
"At a time when there is increased urgency to meet the challenges of climate change, the last thing that is needed is the enormous distraction, cost and complexity contained in these plans," it added. | |
'Different approach' | 'Different approach' |
Labour is committed to generating at least 60% of the UK's electricity and heat from renewable and low-carbon sources by 2030. | Labour is committed to generating at least 60% of the UK's electricity and heat from renewable and low-carbon sources by 2030. |
It would take the four licensed and regulated electricity and gas transmission companies, including National Grid Electricity and National Grid Gas, back into public ownership and "replace existing private monopolies with publicly owned and locally run institutions". | It would take the four licensed and regulated electricity and gas transmission companies, including National Grid Electricity and National Grid Gas, back into public ownership and "replace existing private monopolies with publicly owned and locally run institutions". |
Mr Corbyn said: "Our Green Industrial Revolution will benefit working-class people with cheaper energy bills, more rewarding well-paid jobs, and new industries to revive the parts of our country that have been held back for far too long." | Mr Corbyn said: "Our Green Industrial Revolution will benefit working-class people with cheaper energy bills, more rewarding well-paid jobs, and new industries to revive the parts of our country that have been held back for far too long." |
This is not the first time National Grid has hit out at Labour plans to nationalise the energy network. | This is not the first time National Grid has hit out at Labour plans to nationalise the energy network. |
In 2017, the party's manifesto committed it to "take energy back into public ownership to deliver renewable energy, affordability for consumers, and democratic control", prompting the company's boss to tell the Guardian newspaper: "Clearly we do not think it is a good idea." | In 2017, the party's manifesto committed it to "take energy back into public ownership to deliver renewable energy, affordability for consumers, and democratic control", prompting the company's boss to tell the Guardian newspaper: "Clearly we do not think it is a good idea." |
The Conservative's vice-chairman for policy, Chris Philp, said Labour's "ideological plan for the state to seize these companies would cost an eye-watering £100bn and saddle taxpayers with their debts". | |
"It would leave politicians in Westminster in charge of keeping the lights on and leave customers with nowhere else to turn," he added. | |
"With no credible plan for how Labour would pay for this, more borrowing and tax hikes would be inevitable." | |