My Views

November 24th, 2022
Written by John Grogan

Following a request from Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves I have helped the Labour Party set up a Yorkshire and Humber Labour Business Forum. This organises meetings where Labour’s Shadow Cabinet team can explain their ideas and take their message to business leaders in the region.

Today, I arranged for Labour’s Shadow Climate Change and Net Zero Minister, Ed Miliband, to go to Hull and speak at a business roundtable at Hull and Humber Chamber of Commerce. The area is now a centre for the renewable energy industry.
 
Business representatives reported on the success of the off shore wind farms in the North Sea. The world's largest offshore wind farm is now fully operational, 55 miles off the coast of Yorkshire. They reported though that as little as 30% of the spend on the wind farms was made in the UK.
 
We must do better in the next decade when it comes to investing in hydrogen, on shore wind and carbon capture.
 
A Labour Government would set up a State Energy Company which would work with the private sector to make sure we get more high wage, high skilled jobs in Yorkshire and the Humber. It would bring greater business certainty following the chaos of frequent changes of Conservative Prime Ministers, all with different economic plans. Labour would also invest £28 billion each year to fight climate change, bring down energy prices and create jobs.