Miliband under the cosh already

We’ve already noted that Miliband’s energy policy will come to no good - and there’ll be a lot of disappointment for those who set store by either or both of a 100%-decarbonised electricity system and/or “lower bills for everyone, for good”, both to be delivered by 2030.

The number of reports telling him this can’t be done, in aspect after aspect, is becoming a deluge.  The latest and possibly the most damning is from the redoubtable National Audit Office which declares that his plans are critically dependent upon delivery of carbon capture & storage (CCS); but that he has no Plan B, and that Plan A is most unlikely to deliver CCS in the relevant timeframe without some highly implausible assumptions being made.  (Personally I’d go further and say, there is no possible plan and no amount of money that could deliver CCS on the scale and timeframe “required”.)

Since the election, other bodies have variously told him that 

• he needs to find another £48bn if his wind and solar plans are to be realised (Cornwall Insight);
• he’s on track only to achieve one third of the “necessary” emissions reductions by 2030 (Climate Change Committee – although to be fair, they are deeply compromised by their own inanities over the years)
• he’ll need to commission new gas-fired power stations for his “reserve fleet”, not just rely on existing ones (National Engineering Policy Centre, whoever they are)
• smash the gangs NIMBYs up and down the land (Resolution Foundation)  

Etc.  That’s on top of dealing with the dreadful EDF on Hinkley Point and Sizewell, and fending off a load of legal actions that will be gleefully pursued down several avenues, notwithstanding Starmer’s intention to see off all opposition summarily in whatever planning forum he meets it.

Obviously, we understand that every Tom Dick & Harriet is busily projecting his/her wish-list onto the government right now in every area of policy, along with urgent financial pleading; and most will be sorely disappointed.  Starmer/Reeves took care to limit their measurable commitments to as few as they thought they could get away with.  But not in energy. “Clean power by 2030:  families and businesses will have lower bills for good, from a cheaper, zero carbon electricity system by 2030” was the commitment.  Oh yes, and 650,000 good new British jobs delivering it all, also by 2030.  It ain’t gonna happen.

And Miliband himself must be set to be a very early casualty.  Will he see out the New Year?  The first reshuffle?  Party conference? 

ND