Shadow minister hits back at claims she was in ‘hiding' when with her baby
Mr Miliband had pointed out the Conservative shadow minister's absence on Monday as he gave a statement to the Commons on climate and nature.
He said: 'The trouble is we're in a situation now where the shadow secretary of state goes into hiding when there's a statement about the climate crisis, because it's just too embarrassing to try and articulate the opposition's position.'
This was followed by energy minister Kerry McCarthy, who also remarked on her prior absence during energy questions on Tuesday.
Ms Coutinho had asked her why the Government is 'offshoring' British industries, and replacing them with dirtier imports with higher emissions.
Ms McCarthy replied: 'Perhaps if (she) had been here yesterday, she'd have been able to engage with the Secretary of State about that then.'
Ms Coutinho later told MPs she had been missing from the Commons as she was looking after her son Rafael.
The MP for East Surrey has recently returned to the Commons from maternity leave.
Maternity leave for ministers and paid opposition figures, normally shadow secretaries of state, was introduced by the Conservative government in 2021. It entitles them to six months of maternity leave.
She upbraided Mr Miliband as she began her questions to him. She said: 'I will just briefly say that yesterday the Secretary of State said I was hiding, when I was in fact with my six-month old baby who I know he's aware of.
'So, on behalf of all young mums who face these kinds of comments from their first few weeks back to work, can I gently suggest that he reflects on his remarks?'
Mr Miliband apologised, telling her: 'I completely respect her decision to be with her young baby, and there was no offence intended. I think it's very, very important that we understand the needs of new parents and indeed parents across the country.'
Ms Coutinho went on to ask the Government why it is now paying £82 per megawatt hour for offshore wind, up from £72 last year.
'That's the price he's paid for offshore wind, and he's set to do the same this year. And that's before the extra cost for grid for wasted wind and backup which are going through the roof thanks to his policies,' she said.
'Yesterday he admitted to radical honesty, will he either admit that he can't add up or that his policies can't bring down bills?'
Mr Miliband said: 'She is gambling on fossil fuels, the same thing she did which led us to the worst cost-of-living crisis in our country's history.
'Family finances wrecked, business finances wrecked and public finances wrecked. The only way to bring down bills for good is cheap, home-grown power that we can control. We have an energy security plan, they have an energy surrender plan.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
ITV News
4 minutes ago
- ITV News
Water industry faces ‘root and branch reform' after landmark review
The water industry is set to be completely overhauled following the publication of a landmark review of the sector on Monday. Environment Secretary Steve Reed is expected to promise 'root and branch reform' of the sector in a bid to clean up England's rivers and limit rises in water bills. The commitment will follow the publication of the final report of the Independent Water Commission led by former Bank of England deputy governor Sir Jon Cunliffe. In a speech responding to Sir Jon's report, Mr Reed is set to describe the water industry as 'broken' and welcome the commission's recommendations to ensure 'the failures of the past can never happen again'. He is also widely reported to be preparing to abolish the industry's beleaguered regulator Ofwat, which has faced criticism for overseeing a sharp rise in sewage pollution while failing to crack down on executive pay and large dividends at debt-ridden water companies. In his interim report, Sir Jon criticised the way the sector was regulated, with duties split between Ofwat, the Environment Agency and the Drinking Water Inspectorate. On Sunday, Mr Reed would not confirm that Ofwat was in line to be scrapped, but declined to express confidence in the regulator either, saying it was 'clearly failing'. Both the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats have agreed that water regulation needs to change. Urging the Government to be 'transparent' about what would replace Ofwat and how it would work, Tory shadow environment secretary Victoria Atkins said: 'No one disputes that the water sector is under pressure, and we all want to see meaningful improvements. 'Reforming regulation must be focused on improving performance and guaranteeing water security.' Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey has called for the creation of a Clean Water Authority that could 'hold these water companies to account' and 'fine them when they fail'. While Mr Reed has pledged to avoid the need for 'huge shock hikes' in water bills, such as the 26% increase seen this year, reform is unlikely to lead to a fall in costs for consumers. The Government hopes that investment in long-neglected infrastructure will make large bill increases unnecessary, but Mr Reed acknowledged on Sunday that there needed to be 'appropriate bill rises' to secure 'appropriate levels of investment'. He is also unlikely to commit to expanding social tariffs that could help households struggling with bills at the cost of higher charges for wealthier families, saying he was yet to be convinced that this was needed. Prior to Monday's announcement, Mr Reed had already committed to halving sewage pollution in England's rivers by 2030 thanks to a £104 billion investment from the sector in upgrading infrastructure. He has also announced the creation of a new, legally binding water ombudsman, expanding the role of the voluntary Consumer Council for Water and bringing the sector into line with other utilities. But the Conservatives have accused Labour of copying the policies of the previous government.
ITV News
4 minutes ago
- ITV News
Home Secretary announces inquiry into Battle of Orgreave
The Government has announced a public inquiry into a violent confrontation between striking miners and police which became known as the Battle of Orgreave. Campaigners have long fought for an investigation into the police's actions during and after clashes at the South Yorkshire coking plant on 18 June 1984. Dozens of people were injured and 95 picketers were arrested and charged with riot and violent disorder, but all charges were later dropped after evidence was discredited. The inquiry, expected to launch in the autumn, will investigate the events surrounding the incident and will have powers to compel people to provide information where necessary, the Home Office said. The Rt Revd Dr Pete Wilcox, the Bishop of Sheffield, has agreed to chair the inquiry, which the Home Office said is intended to 'aid the public's understanding of how the events on the day, and immediately after, came to pass'. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said what happened at Orgreave 'cast a shadow over communities in Yorkshire and other mining areas'. Ms Cooper added: 'The violent scenes and subsequent prosecutions raised concerns that have been left unanswered for decades, and we must now establish what happened. 'I pay tribute to the campaigners who never stopped in their search for truth and justice, and I look forward to continuing to work with them as we build an inquiry that gets the answers they and their communities deserve.' The Home Office said formal consultation between the Home Secretary and the Rt Revd Wilcox on the inquiry's terms of reference has begun. The Rt Revd Wilcox said he did not 'underestimate the weight of expectation or the significance of the task'. He added: 'I look forward to engaging with stakeholders in the coming weeks over the draft terms of reference, and to working with the government to identify experts to support me on the independent panel. 'I expect the panel to begin its work in the autumn, and we will endeavour to deliver an inquiry which is thorough and fair, and which will uncover what happened at Orgreave as swiftly as possible.' The Orgreave Truth & Justice Campaign (OTJC) said it wanted to know who was responsible for 'organising and ordering the deployment of multiple police forces, including mounted police armed with truncheons, shields and dogs, against striking miners'. The campaign group said it wanted the inquiry to find out how it was decided that 'striking miners should be attacked and arrested at Orgreave and charged with riot and unlawful assembly, which carried heavy prison sentences'. It added that it wanted to know why 'the police operational order for police deployments that day disappeared and other evidence been destroyed or embargoed until 2066 and 2071'. OTJC secretary, Kate Flannery, said the announcement of an inquiry was 'really positive news'. Ms Flannery added: 'We now need to be satisfied that the inquiry is given the necessary powers to fully investigate all the aspects of the orchestrated policing at Orgreave, and have unrestricted access to all relevant information including government, police and media documents, photos and films.' The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) general secretary, Chris Kitchen, said the inquiry was 'hugely welcome'. Mr Kitchen added: 'The events at Orgreave, and throughout the strike, destroyed the trust between the police and mining communities even now, 41 years later. 'It is vital that this trust is won back and the NUM believe this inquiry will go some way to rebuilding that trust.' Kevin Horne, a miner arrested at Orgreave, said: 'It is now over 41 years since a paramilitary style police operation was planned at Orgreave and it is important to remember that some of the miners attacked and arrested there are now dead and many others are old and ill. 'We need a quick and thorough inquiry with a tight timescale so that surviving miners can at last obtain the truth and justice they have been waiting for.' Mayor of South Yorkshire, Oliver Coppard, said the inquiry was a 'landmark moment for justice and accountability'. Mr Coppard added: 'The Inquiry represents an opportunity to examine not only the actions of South Yorkshire Police and other forces on that day, but also the broader role of government at the time. 'It's a step towards setting the historical record straight, ensuring lessons are learned, and restoring public trust.'
Scottish Sun
4 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
Women nearing retirement to get £5,000 a year less in private pension income than men, experts warn
Four in ten workers are under-saving for their golden years PENSION INEQUALITY Women nearing retirement to get £5,000 a year less in private pension income than men, experts warn Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) WOMEN nearing retirement can expect to get £5,000 a year less in private pension income than men, experts say. Fresh analysis shows they will typically receive around £100 per week compared to a little over £200 a week for blokes. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 People deserve to know they'll have a decent income in retirement — but the truth is that is not the reality facing many, said Liz Kendall The greater likelihood of a history of part-time jobs and caring responsibilities may contribute to women getting less. Resulting lower National Insurance contributions could also curtail their state pension. The introduction of automatic pension enrolment from 2012 has helped women and men, the experts insist. But retirees in 2050 are predicted to have £800 — eight per cent — less private pension income than those today. Meanwhile, four in ten workers — nearly 15million — are under-saving for their golden years, with low earners and the self-employed hit the hardest, research shows. The Government will today revive the Pension Commission to address the findings. Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall said: 'People deserve to know they'll have a decent income in retirement — but the truth is that is not the reality facing many. 'The Pensions Commission laid the groundwork, and now, two decades later, we are reviving it to tackle the barriers that stop too many saving in the first place.' The British Chambers of Commerce said that any costs to businesses on top of National Insurance contributions and the Employment Rights Bill would have to be 'gradual'. And they must be paused if economic conditions worsen, giving businesses time to adjust to increased costs, it added. Rain Newton-Smith, director-general of the Confederation of British Industry, said there must be a consensus in business, Government and society that the system is affordable for employers and workers. Pension expert on how to retire early- Scotish Widows
