Tories’ energy policy has been a disaster

THIS winter we will all suffer the effects of rocketing fuel prices. The poorest, however, will undoubtedly suffer the greatest hardship.

Our very reliance on fossil fuels and the lack of a coherent energy policy over the last 12 years of Tory government has helped cause these effects.

A survey recently showed that the UK has the worst insulated homes in Europe. Since David Cameron’s promise in 2013 to “cut the green crap” the rate of insulating homes has crashed.

It has been estimated that if insulation had continued to be installed at the same rate as a decade ago, UK households could have saved £1.5 billion in the next financial year.

Subsequent policy has been no better. Boris Johnson’s government’s Green Homes Grant scheme in 2020 was an administrative disaster, upgrading about eight per cent of its target number before closing in disarray.

The Labour Party’s Zero Carbon Homes policy was scrapped by David Cameron in 2015, resulting in approximately 900,000 homes being built to lower standards, driving up energy bills.

The present Government’s energy strategy, announced in April, was shamefully remiss in not providing a massive boost to insulating our homes. In contrast, the New Green Deal policies of the opposition parties advocate a major initiative to insulate our homes and increase renewables.

Off-shore wind generation is now four times cheaper than gas. On-shore wind is cheaper than off-shore, but was effectively stopped by David Cameron in 2016. This policy has been continued by the present Government’s energy strategy, despite official figures stating that 80 per cent of the public support on-shore wind. This is the same level of support as for solar farms, which are the cheapest form of energy generation.

In the catfight to woo 160,000 Tory members, the leadership candidates are now vying with each other on anti-environmental policies. Liz Truss is to scrap the green energy levy, allow fracking and ramp up the extraction of fossil fuels. Rishi Sunak supports fracking, does not support wind farms and would restrict solar farms. These are frighteningly retrograde policies which will make us poorer and delay net zero.

What we have seen in the last 12 years is an enormous loss of opportunity. What is alarming is that over the next two years the situation is likely to get worse.

Inevitably the number of people experiencing fuel poverty will grow. We cannot let this happen. We can no longer let down those in greatest need.

Mike Baldwin, by email