Key facts
- Ed Miliband, as energy secretary, focused on decarbonizing the UK's power sector by 2030.
- His department implemented reforms to accelerate renewable energy deployment and grid connections.
- Miliband has faced criticism and negative briefing from rightwing media, some political factions, and fossil fuel industry allies.
- Despite criticism, Miliband's actions are credited with adding approximately £150 to average household bills and supporting low-income families.
- Miliband has transitioned from the energy department to the Foreign Office.
Ed Miliband, the UK's energy secretary, has been a notably successful minister under Prime Minister Keir Starmer, driving progress in decarbonizing the power sector by 2030. His department has achieved record levels of renewables contracts and implemented reforms to significantly speed up deployment, contributing to economic growth, reindustrialization, energy security, and lower energy bills. Despite these successes, Miliband has faced persistent negative briefing from rightwing media, some political factions, and entities aligned with fossil fuel interests, who label him a "net-zero zealot."
These attacks coincide with calls for new North Sea oil and gas drilling, such as the Jackdaw and Rosebank fields, which Miliband has previously described as "climate vandalism." While giving the go-ahead to these projects would not technically breach Labour's manifesto ban on new licenses, it represents a potential compromise. Miliband's reforms have been credited with adding approximately £150 to average household bills and providing additional support to low-income families, though the impact on household budgets is masked by soaring global fossil fuel prices due to events like the Ukraine invasion and the Iran war.
Miliband has now moved to the Foreign Office, bringing his climate expertise to a global role. His popularity within the Labour party and his genuine leadership are cited by supporters as reasons for his effectiveness and also potentially for the attacks he faces. Vested interests and the fossil fuel industry are identified as key drivers behind coordinated smear campaigns. While businesses, represented by the CBI, have noted high UK energy prices, they acknowledge that net zero policies are not the culprit and that Miliband's actions have helped mitigate costs. The government is working on decoupling gas and electricity prices, a complex process aimed at further reducing consumer expenses.