ED Miliband has accused Reform UK of “waging war” on workers at a new cable factory in Scotland.
The Energy Secretary took aim at Nigel Farage’s party in a speech to Labour conference, and particularly over Reform leaders saying they would “declare war” on green energy projects.
“Let’s spell out what Reform’s war means,” the Labour minister said.
“It’s a war on the workers at the Siemens wind turbine factory in Hull; it’s a war on the construction workers building carbon capture and storage in Teesside; it’s a war on the workers at the new cable factory in Scotland; and a war on the working people of Britain.”
Miliband was seemingly referring to Japanese firm Sumitomo Electric, which is planning to develop a £350 million subsea cable manufacturing facility at the Port of Nigg in the Highlands, which will create more than 150 jobs next year.
He added: “Theirs is an all out war on future generations too.
“I’m incredibly proud of British climate leadership. I’m incredibly proud of Labour climate leadership.
“And I say Reform’s war on the future would betray every young person in our country and every person yet to be born.”
Miliband also announced that energy firms receiving a Clean Industry Bonus will have to let their workers have access to unions.
The UK Government scheme is being used to support private sector investment in the offshore wind supply chain, with Scotland reportedly set to receive up to £185 million.
The Energy Secretary said: “For far too long, trade unions have been locked out of new energy industries.
“They came of age when Tory dogma said unions were a dirty word – no more.
“Not on my watch. Not on my watch, conference. Not on our watch. Not ever.
“Our Clean Industry Bonus rewards the offshore wind industry for investing in Britain, and that’s the right thing to do, but under a Labour Government, public money must serve the public interest.
“That’s why I can announce that we will introduce a new fair work charter as a condition of that bonus, and let me spell it out: Fair wages, the very best rights at work, and yes, access to unions.
“My message is simple: Under this Labour Government, fairness at work is not a privilege for some but must be a right for all.”
But the Energy Secretary’s speech also came on the same day that energy bills have again been hiked.
With the 2% increase to Ofgem’s price cap taking effect, energy bills for the average household in the UK paying by direct debit for gas and electricity has gone from the current £1720 to £1755 per year.
In April, consumers will face even higher bills as charges to operate the UK's electricity and gas networks are set to rise, and a levy to pay for nuclear power stations is also set to increase.
Experts at Cornwall Insight said this could see a hike of around £100.
During the General Election campaign, Labour repeatedly promised to reduce energy bills by £300.
SNP energy spokesperson, Graham Leadbitter, slammed the rise for Scottish households commenting that it is “completely absurd that bills are going up in energy rich Scotland while energy jobs are going down”.
“Ed Miliband took to the stage on the very same day energy bills go up in energy rich Scotland and just as we learn prices could rise by another £100 in April – Labour Party politicians lined up to tell Scots they’d slash their bills by £300, yet here we are again with bills set to rise by £287 on the Labour Party’s watch,” he said.
“To make matters worse, these prices rises are in part thanks to Labour’s 'nuclear tax' that will see Scottish bill payers pay more to subsidise the creation of extortionate nuclear power plants in England.
"The fact is the Labour Party’s promise wasn’t worth the placard it was written on and Scots will continue to face the completely absurd situation whereby bills are going up in energy rich Scotland while energy jobs are going down.”
