Even when Reeves is pushing for new airport expansions, against internal opposition from Miliband, we can tell the Government is completely out of touch with economic reality.
Of course, there are local and environmental opponents, but when the UK plc needs desperately to grow the economy, should we not expect every Cabinet minister to put their shoulder to the wheel?
Following a spate of reports about Cabinet division over Heathrow Airport’s wish for a third runway, the ministers are trying to present a united front.
Miliband has said a third runway is not a resigning issue, and environment secretary Steve Reed has found a way to claim the additional runway will reduce emissions by allowing aircraft to land quicker instead of circling above London.
If Reeves can square off Miliband and others in Starmer’s Cabinet, she still has to face the wrath of Sadiq Khan – with London’s Mayor serving notice that he will not hesitate to take legal action against the Government if it agrees to Heathrow’s third runway and a doubling of capacity at Gatwick and Luton airports.
The greater tragedy is that for all the higher energy costs we face – at home and at work – the fact is that Miliband’s supercharged rush to ‘net zero’ is not solving ‘climate change’.
If man’s ‘carbon’ emissions cause the earth to warm and the seas to rise, then Miliband’s policies do not alter that equation. All that is happening is our industrial production (and the jobs and investment) are being exported to China, India and other countries where energy is allowed to be much cheaper and is usually dirtier.
In its place, Miliband is helping to import hardship and poverty that adds to the problems created by Reeves.
It would be funny if it was not so tragic. A comical example of pushback against ‘net zero’ came when the head of the Bank of England’s Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA), Sam Woods, wrote to Kier Starmer calling on the priority the Bank has to give ‘climate change’ regulations to be downgraded if not removed altogether.
The Bank has to “give regard” to ‘climate change’, putting it on an equal footing with promoting economic growth. The priority was introduced by Mark Carney, but later removed by Jeremy Hunt, only for Reeves to reintroduce it in October.
When Reeves appealed to regulators for ideas to tear down “the regulatory barriers that hold back growth”, Sam Woods used the opportunity to call on the Bank’s concern for ‘net zero’ to be demoted (again).
What the Bank of England thinks is good for its operations to help grow the economy should surely be good for the rest of government to adopt – but Whitehall groupthink is a very powerful force.
Never mind, while Britain’s industry shivers from Miliband’s ‘net zero’ shutdown, he can feel warmed by his self-righteousness. Greta Thunberg must be proud of him.
incorporated for charitable purposes. Head Office: 27 Old Gloucester Street, London WC1N 3AX.
Ken Hughes
| #
When all our industry has gone to China, then the power will also have gone to China. We will be effectively ruled by China with all that comes with that. I wonder how much is being put into the pockets of these quislings?
Reply