Ed woos green vote with wind farms pledge

ED MILIBAND has vowed to build more wind farms if he becomes Prime Minister in a bid to persuade voters considering the Green Party to back him.

The Labour leader said environmental issues were a ‘big choice’ voters face in May and accused the Tories of abandoning their commitment to tackling climate change.

Asked if he would lose votes to the Greens, who have a Left-wing agenda and oppose public spending cuts, he said he was the only major party leader committed to going green and fighting global poverty, which he said was ‘at the heart of my beliefs’.

He vowed to commit Britain to a tough new target to reduce carbon emissions by the year 2030, which will involve a major expansion of wind farms in the countryside and offshore.

Mr Miliband, who as Energy Secretary in 2008 saw through some of the world’s most ambitious climate laws, said turbines would be a key part of Britain’s ‘environmental future’.

His focus on the issue reflects concerns Labour votes are at risk from the Green party, led by Natalie Bennett, which has seen membership soar in recent months. This week it hit 40,879 – just behind Ukip who have 41,514 and not far behind the LibDems on 44,576. On current trends, Green membership could overtake Ukip’s this month.

David Cameron has effectively ruled out a televised debate involving Nigel Farage before the election unless the Greens are also invited.

Mr Miliband yesterday called on renewable energy supporters to back him. He said: ‘If people want a prime minister who’s actually going to show leadership on climate change, who’s actually going to take the issue seriously…I am committed to this issue.’

He said the Conservatives had sent out mixed messages by announcing plans to withdraw subsidies from wind farms within five years.

He added: ‘David Cameron has said he wants to cut the green crap. I don’t think that is somebody who is really committed to this issue.’

Labour wants to completely ‘decarbonise’ – or eliminate fossil fuels such as coal – from electricity generation by 2030. Green energy currently generates about 35 per cent of electricity.

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