Fri, 07 Feb 2025

Fri, 07 Feb 2025 Miliband refuses to say whether he personally backs Heathrow

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has announced the Labour government will support airport expansion plans.
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband refuses to state his personal position on Heathrow airport expansion, despite previously opposing it as Labour leader in 2010 due to environmental concerns. He claims he is part of the government and abides by collective responsibility, meaning he must support the cabinet's decision to expand Heathrow. Miliband says a final decision on Heathrow expansion is still some years away and will need to meet strict carbon budgets and local environmental standards before it can be approved. When pressed about his previous stance, Miliband says there would be no point in resigning over Heathrow as a decision has not yet been made. He also refuses to state his personal position on the Rosebank oil field, another project he previously opposed for environmental reasons. Miliband emphasizes that clean energy is essential for economic growth and net zero targets, and argues that a transition to "clean home grown power" is necessary to control rising energy bills. The government plans to consult on proposals to require all rental properties to have an EPC rating of C or above, which would increase costs for landlords but benefit tenants with safer and more energy-efficient homes.
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