Net Zero Watch Samizdat: NESO summertime madness

UK

NESO accused of cover-up over blackout threat

Britain’s grid operator has been accused of covering up system failures that threaten to trigger blackouts. Bosses at the National Energy Systems Operator allegedly ordered control-room staff to hide information that showed the grid was not being run securely, and to not to keep permanent records of operational decisions, to ensure there was no paper trail. Shadow Energy Sec Claire Coutinho has written to the ICO demanding it open an investigation into the alleged incidents.

Net Zero Watch Samizdat: Dark Green Money

UK

Ed Miliband’s Dark Green Money Network

An investigation by The Spectator has exposed the Dark Green Money networks behind the ideological capture of Westminster.

This week’s cover piece reveals the monied interests behind a dense ecosystem of funders, think tanks, campaign groups and policy organisations that have helped shape Britain’s net zero debate. Also read this article in the Telegraph on the European Climate Foundation. 

Net Zero Watch Samizdat: Campaign against Red Ed gathers pace

UK

Banks and unions unite to keep Miliband away from the Treasury

Ed Miliband has done the unthinkable by bringing trade union bosses and bankers together in an unlikely alliance - to stop him becoming Chancellor. They say he would put a ‘noose’ around job creation with a senior government figure saying “It takes something to unite Goldman Sachs bankers and the unions.”

Net Zero Watch Samizdat: Will Miliband become the Net Zero Chancellor?

UK

Burnham’s Makerfield victory could make Miliband even more dangerous

Burnham said remarkably little about Net Zero during his by-election campaign, but recent reports pubished by his campaign aides suggest his by-election win is unlikely to mean much change on energy. If anything, it raises the prospect of Ed Miliband moving to the Treasury, where he could prove even more influential. As Chancellor, Miliband - who has gone rogue and is no longer speaking to the Prime Minister - would have far greater control over spending and taxation. Rather than abandoning the renewables-first strategy as costs rise, he could seek to shift more of those costs from bills into general taxation and use redistribution to shield households from the political consequences.

Net Zero Watch Samizdat: Coal Power 2030

UK

Net Zero Watch: we need a Coal Power 2030 mission

Britain faces an electricity capacity crunch, because we will soon lose much of our gas-fired fleet. Replacements - either nuclear or gas - will arrive too late. A new paper by Andrew Montford explains that the only option is coal. Politicians will need to come to terms with this painful fact.

Net Zero Watch Samizdat: Full steam ahead

UK

Miliband adopts target to slash emissions by 2040

Government formally tables legislation in Parliament to adopt Seventh Carbon Budget goal to reduce UK greenhouse gas emissions to 87% below 1990 levels by 2040.

Net Zero Watch Samizdat: Tony Blair brings centrism back to energy reality

UK

Blair: we cannot afford Net Zero

Tony Blair has warned Britain cannot afford Net Zero and urged the government to change course and prioritise cheaper energy. “We must prioritise cheaper energy and electrification over net zero and use what is left of our North Sea oil and gas resources,” he says.

Net Zero Watch Samizdat: Britain loosens sanctions on Russian fuels

UK

UK loosens sanctions on Russian fuel

The UK government has watered-down sanctions on Russian diesel and jet fuel amid the ongoing energy crisis. Miliband is closing down our refineries and banning new North Sea licences so we can fund Putin’s war machine. RUSI estimates the policy will gift Putin £1bn in additional revenues. 

Net Zero Watch Samizdat: North Sea’s future hangs in the balance

UK

Miliband vows permanent shutdown of North Sea

Labour is to ban new oil and gas fields in Britain, making it far harder for any future government to reopen the North Sea. A legal prohibition on new drilling in the energy independence bill will make Ed Miliband’s temporary moratorium on new drilling permanent. Labour also plans to legally ban onshore fracking.

Net Zero Watch Samizdat: Blair steps up his attack on Net Zero

UK

Blair: Britain risks falling behind because of Net Zero

Britain risks “falling behind” global competitors such as the US and China because of Ed Miliband’s net zero drive, Sir Tony Blair has warned. The former prime minister said the UK and EU must abandon their “climate-first, climate-only” approach in favour of cheap and reliable energy.

Net Zero Watch Samizdat: Net Zero is taking us for a spin

UK

Miliband bans tumble dryers

The sale of traditional tumble dryers is to be stamped out in a net-zero drive that will push consumers toward more expensive machines that take longer to dry clothes.

Net Zero Watch Samizdat: Defiant Miliband Doubles Down

UK

Miliband: I need to go further and faster

Ed Miliband rejected warnings he is going “too far and too fast” and instead vowed to speed up the construction of renewables across the country. This will include a “massive” expansion of net zero infrastructure on the public estate, as well as allowing large electricity substations to be built without planning applications.

Net Zero Watch Samizdat: UK’s energy weaknesses exposed

UK

IMF warns that Britain faces the biggest shock in the G7

Britain faces the biggest economic shock in the G7 this year, the IMF has warned, as it cut its UK growth forecasts for this year and next. The IMF cited the "impact of higher energy prices”. By contrast, energy exporters such as the US and Canada will see a much smaller hit to growth.

Net Zero Watch Samizdat: Britain’s Net Zero nightmare continues

UK

Tony Blair urges Ed Miliband: Don’t be ideological on Net Zero and drill

Sir Tony Blair has accused Ed Miliband of taking an “ideological” approach to net zero and called on him to approve new oil and gas fields in the North Sea to protect households and businesses from energy price shocks.

Net Zero Watch Samizdat: Labour MPs demand a rethink on Net Zero

UK

Up to 40 Labour MPs write to Starmer demanding the party waters down its Net Zero commitments

Dozens of Labour MPs have written to Sir Keir Starmer and three Cabinet members demanding the Government looks at watering down its Net Zero commitment to drive sales of electric vehicles amid fears UK carmakers might have to shed jobs.

Net Zero Watch Samizdat: No easy answers

UK

Renewable UK CEO urges Miliband to restart North Sea drilling

The UK’s wind farm trade body has called on Ed Miliband to “take energy out of the culture wars” by increasing North Sea production.

Net Zero Watch Samizdat: Reality Bites

UK

Make UK urges Miliband to approve new North Sea licences

The government must urgently approve new licences for the Rosebank and Jackdaw oil and gas fields in the North Sea to help protect Britain's energy security amid the war in Iran, the influential manufacturers' body Make UK will warn today.

Net Zero Watch Samizdat: Miliband’s Epic Failure

UK

Miliband risks energy bills crisis

Ed Miliband has rejected calls to “open up the North Sea” as war rages in Iran, claiming that the biggest “long-term threat multiplier” to UK security is the climate crisis.

Net Zero Watch Samizdat: Green Peril

UK

Green party wins Gorton and Denton by-election

The Green Party has won the Gorton and Denton by-election, with Hannah Spencer taking the seat from Labour in the Greens' first ever Westminster by-election victory. Green leader Zack Polanski told BBC Breakfast Gorton and Denton was only his party's 127th target seat and the victory showed "there's no no-go areas for the Green Party".

Net Zero Watch Samizdat: The Cult

WATCH OUR NEW FILM: THE CULT

Colin Brazier returns for our second short film on the cult of Net Zero and how it protects 'green' policies from being questioned by stifling debate and cracking down on free speech.