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Telegraph
9 hours ago
- Politics
- Telegraph
Rayner's secret Islamophobia talks ‘risk new grooming gang cover-up'
Angela Rayner is accused of wanting to secretly drive through a definition of Islamophobia that could make it harder to discuss grooming gangs. The Deputy Prime Minister has appointed a working group to come up with a definition to be used across government. It is chaired by Dominic Grieve, the former Tory Cabinet minister, who has praised a 2019 study that called the discussion of 'grooming gangs' an example of 'anti-Muslim racism'. However, Claire Coutinho, a Conservative frontbencher, told The Telegraph she was concerned the process could be influenced by 'activists who have promoted extreme definitions of Islamophobia'. She has written to Ms Rayner accusing her of having the work carried out in secret, without the public being able to offer their views during a consultation period. And she pointed out that a ' culture of secrecy around matters relating to race and religion ' was a key factor enabling 'gangs of men to groom, rape, and torture young girls with impunity'. Critics have warned that some proposed definitions of Islamophobia would make it impossible for people to raise concerns about Asian grooming gangs. It comes after a report by Baroness Louise Casey found that hundreds of girls had suffered unimaginable sexual abuse, in part because some in authority had not tackled the issue out of fear of appearing racist. Ms Coutinho, the shadow minister for equalities, said was concerned the process would 'stifle free speech', and 'almost certainly would have prevented people from speaking out about the shocking abuse of young girls, disproportionately perpetrated by Pakistani Muslim men '. She told The Telegraph: 'The Casey report was crystal clear. For years, people were too scared to tell the truth about the rape and torture of children because they were scared of being called racist. 'Yet Labour is doubling down – pushing a secretive process including the voices of activists who have promoted extreme definitions of Islamophobia that would prevent people discussing genuine concerns around extremism and integration. 'Freedom of speech is not an optional extra in Britain. Angela Rayner must allow the general public to have their say on the definition of Islamophobia and make sure that no religions, belief systems, or people who hold a certain faith are beyond criticism.' The 2019 all-party parliamentary study on Islamophobia praised by Mr Grieve said: 'The recourse to the notion of free speech and a supposed right to criticise Islam results in nothing more than another subtle form of anti-Muslim racism, whereby the criticism humiliates, marginalises, and stigmatises Muslims. One real-life example of this concerns the issue of 'grooming gangs'.' Mr Grieve described the report at the time as 'well-researched' and 'an important contribution to the debate'. However, it was condemned by Kemi Badenoch, the equalities minister at the time, although the Labour Party adopted the definition and the examples referenced in the report. The working group includes Baroness Shaista Gohir, who in 2013 wrote a report arguing that the 'media coverage being given to British Pakistani offenders' was 'disproportionate', and that this was helping to 'fuel racism and Islamophobia'. She wrote: 'Right-wing populist groups have used this issue to fuel racism and Islamophobia, ignoring evidence that sexual exploitation occurs in every community and that the majority of offenders are white.' Another member, Akeela Ahmed, has called for the government to engage with the Muslim Council of Britain, despite alleged links to extremism. The new working group recently announced that although certain groups would be invited to respond to a consultation on any definition, the public would not be asked to do so. In her letter, Ms Coutinho said: 'This is unacceptable given the wide-ranging and serious implications that the definition will have on freedom of speech.' When the group comes up with its decision, it will be sent to Ms Rayner to sign off. The terms of reference state that the recommendations of the working group will not be published. Ms Coutinho continued: 'Surely in this, of all policy areas, the public deserve full transparency. 'A culture of secrecy around matters relating to race and religion – and self-censorship for fear of causing offence – was a key factor in what enabled gangs of men to groom, rape, and torture young girls with impunity. 'The Casey report has said, in no uncertain terms, that many examples were found of organisations avoiding the discussion of grooming gangs altogether 'for fear of appearing racist, raising community tensions or causing community cohesion problems'. 'For you to continue this work in secrecy, and without inviting views from the general public or wider society, would demonstrate that the Government has clearly not learnt the necessary lessons of the Casey report and the importance of transparency in maintaining public trust.' Those invited to take part in the consultation are asked for views on: what terminology to use, the need for a definition, whether racism should be a component of any new definition, what should be included within a definition, and examples of anti-Muslim hatred/Islamophobia. The warnings were backed by the Policy Exchange think tank, which claimed an official definition of Islamophobia could shut down vital debate on grooming gangs. The report urged the Government to suspend Mr Grieve's working group with immediate effect, pending the conclusion of the national inquiry into grooming gangs in three years' time. Sir John Jenkins, former ambassador to Saudi Arabia and co-author of the report, said any official definition of Islamophobia would 'almost certainly turbocharge ' cancel culture '' and would 'be an undeniable act of two-tier policy, creating special status and protection for members of one faith alone'. A spokesman for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said: 'We are absolutely committed to defending freedom of speech, and any proposed definition must be compatible with the right to freedom of speech and expression.
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Miliband's clean power goal branded a ‘fantasy' after wind project axed
Ed Miliband's hopes of achieving clean power by 2030 have been branded a 'fantasy' after a massive offshore wind project was axed by developers. Claire Coutinho, the Conservative former energy secretary, said Ørsted's decision to axe the Hornsea 4 project had dealt a potentially fatal blow to the Energy Secretary's goal to wean Britain off oil and gas by the end of the decade. She said: 'The Clean Power by 2030 [initiative] was already pretty unachievable but this makes a bad situation worse.' When in office Ms Coutinho aimed to decarbonise the power grid but by 2035, a target widely considered be more realistic. Ms Coutinho said: 'Ed Miliband is going to spend a fortune trying to achieve a fantasy because he's staked his entire political reputation on it. 'Wind developers have Ed over a barrel and it will be businesses and consumers that pay the price. We can't afford Ed Miliband and his eco lunacy.' Dr John Constable, director of the UK charity Renewable Energy Foundation, said: 'This cancellation puts the feasibility of the net zero targets into question, and puts huge pressure on Ed Miliband to increase green subsidies, which are already costing British electricity consumers £25bn a year.' Ørsted pulled the plug on the Hornsea 4 project off the east of England on Wednesday as it blamed rising costs and interest rates. The scheme would have seen 180 giant turbines built off the Yorkshire coast providing 2.4 gigawatts (GW) of power – enough for up to 2.6m homes when the wind was blowing. The project's contribution would have been essential to Mr Miliband's plans. The UK has just 16GW of offshore wind in operation, but Mr Miliband's Clean Power 2030 Action Plan relies on reaching at least 43GW by 2030 – a target that was always going to be tough. The UK has 15GW of wind projects currently under construction or contracted. That gave a total of 31GW of wind either in operation or planned. However, the cancellation of Hornsea 4 removes 2.4GW of expected capacity, meaning 28.6GW is being built or is planned to be built. Mr Miliband must now fill a gap of 14.4GW to reach his minimum target for 2030. In practice that means the UK needs to install about 3,000 giant wind turbines, averaging about 850 feet high, in under five years – a rate never achieved in UK waters. Rasmus Errboe, chief executive of Ørsted, said the Hornsea 4 project had suffered 'several adverse developments' since it secured the contract in September 2024, including rising supply chain costs, higher interest rates and 'an increase in the risk to construct and operate Hornsea 4 on the planned timeline for a project of this scale'. The Danish company also cited increased 'execution risk', suggesting it underestimated the difficulty of installing the planned 180 giant turbines. Hornsea 4 benefited from government subsidies known as contracts for difference that guarantee a certain level of income after a project is built. Dr Constable said: 'The prices offered by Ørsted to win the subsidies available under the contracts for difference system were unrealistic and did not reflect the underlying capital and operating costs.' A spokesman for the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero said: 'We categorically reject this analysis and are confident we will reach our clean power targets by 2030. 'We recognise the impact of global inflation and supply chain pressures on offshore wind projects across Europe and will work with Ørsted to get Hornsea 4 back on track. 'With £43bn of private investment secured since July, the UK remains one of the most attractive markets in the world for offshore wind.' In a separate development, Rachel Reeves's National Wealth Fund handed Scottish Power a £1.35bn loan on Thursday to upgrade the power grid between Scotland and England. The financing package will help pay for work on several major offshore cabling projects carrying electricity from Scottish wind farms into England, via the North Sea. The Eastern Green Link (EGL) 1 will carry electricity from Torness in south-east Scotland to Hawthorn Pit substation in County Durham. Another line, the EGL 4, will carry power from Fife to Lincolnshire. The financing will also help pay for grid upgrades including new substations and overhead lines in Scotland. The Telegraph previously reported that the Eastern Green Link 1, which was expected to be completed by 2028, had been hit by delays caused by a struggle to source key equipment. Mr Miliband added that the cash would 'help to deliver clean power by 2030 by speeding up grid upgrades – bringing cheaper, home-grown renewable power into homes and businesses, while supporting skilled jobs across the country.' Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Telegraph
08-05-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
Miliband's clean power goal branded a ‘fantasy' after wind project axed
Ed Miliband's hopes of achieving clean power by 2030 have been branded a 'fantasy' after a massive offshore wind project was axed by developers. Claire Coutinho, the Conservative former energy secretary, said Ørsted's decision to axe the Hornsea 4 project had dealt a potentially fatal blow to the Energy Secretary's goal to wean Britain off oil and gas by the end of the decade. She said: 'The Clean Power by 2030 [initiative] was already pretty unachievable but this makes a bad situation worse.' When in office Ms Coutinho aimed to decarbonise the power grid but by 2035, a target widely considered be more realistic. Ms Coutinho said: 'Ed Miliband is going to spend a fortune trying to achieve a fantasy because he's staked his entire political reputation on it. 'Wind developers have Ed over a barrel and it will be businesses and consumers that pay the price. We can't afford Ed Miliband and his eco lunacy.' Dr John Constable, director of the UK charity Renewable Energy Foundation, said: 'This cancellation puts the feasibility of the net zero targets into question, and puts huge pressure on Ed Miliband to increase green subsidies, which are already costing British electricity consumers £25bn a year.' Ørsted pulled the plug on the Hornsea 4 project off the east of England on Wednesday as it blamed rising costs and interest rates. The scheme would have seen 180 giant turbines built off the Yorkshire coast providing 2.4 gigawatts (GW) of power – enough for up to 2.6m homes when the wind was blowing. The project's contribution would have been essential to Mr Miliband's plans. The UK has just 16GW of offshore wind in operation, but Mr Miliband's Clean Power 2030 Action Plan relies on reaching at least 43GW by 2030 – a target that was always going to be tough. The UK has 15GW of wind projects currently under construction or contracted. That gave a total of 31GW of wind either in operation or planned. However, the cancellation of Hornsea 4 removes 2.4GW of expected capacity, meaning 28.6GW is being built or is planned to be built. Mr Miliband must now fill a gap of 14.4GW to reach his minimum target for 2030. In practice that means the UK needs to install about 3,000 giant wind turbines, averaging about 850 feet high, in under five years – a rate never achieved in UK waters. Rasmus Errboe, chief executive of Ørsted, said the Hornsea 4 project had suffered 'several adverse developments' since it secured the contract in September 2024, including rising supply chain costs, higher interest rates and 'an increase in the risk to construct and operate Hornsea 4 on the planned timeline for a project of this scale'. The Danish company also cited increased 'execution risk', suggesting it underestimated the difficulty of installing the planned 180 giant turbines. Hornsea 4 benefited from government subsidies known as contracts for difference that guarantee a certain level of income after a project is built. Dr Constable said: 'The prices offered by Ørsted to win the subsidies available under the contracts for difference system were unrealistic and did not reflect the underlying capital and operating costs.' A spokesman for the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero said: 'We categorically reject this analysis and are confident we will reach our clean power targets by 2030. 'We recognise the impact of global inflation and supply chain pressures on offshore wind projects across Europe and will work with Ørsted to get Hornsea 4 back on track. 'With £43bn of private investment secured since July, the UK remains one of the most attractive markets in the world for offshore wind.' Reeves hands Scottish Power £1.3bn In a separate development, Rachel Reeves's National Wealth Fund handed Scottish Power a £1.35bn loan on Thursday to upgrade the power grid between Scotland and England. The financing package will help pay for work on several major offshore cabling projects carrying electricity from Scottish wind farms into England, via the North Sea. The Eastern Green Link (EGL) 1 will carry electricity from Torness in south-east Scotland to Hawthorn Pit substation in County Durham. Another line, the EGL 4, will carry power from Fife to Lincolnshire. The financing will also help pay for grid upgrades including new substations and overhead lines in Scotland. The Telegraph previously reported that the Eastern Green Link 1, which was expected to be completed by 2028, had been hit by delays caused by a struggle to source key equipment. Mr Miliband added that the cash would 'help to deliver clean power by 2030 by speeding up grid upgrades – bringing cheaper, home-grown renewable power into homes and businesses, while supporting skilled jobs across the country.'
The Independent
31-03-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Decarbonising home heating at risk from weakened policies, think tank warns
The UK will need to import around 20% more gas from abroad to meet home heating demand if the Government fails to effectively implement policies to drive up heat pump installations, according to analysis. The Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU) found households could be left more reliant on foreign gas in the 2030s and therefore exposed to volatile prices – such as the peaks seen during the energy crisis in 2022 when Russia invaded Ukraine. With a significant amount of the UK's carbon footprint coming from gas heating of homes, the think tank looked at two key Government policies that could boost demand for heat pumps – an electric-powered heating system. It found they could displace around 300 terawatt hours of gas by 2035 in home heating – the equivalent needed to heat nine out of 10 (26 million) homes for a year, or gas contained within around 340 LNG tankers. But the two policies – the clean heat market mechanism (CHMM) and the future homes standards (FHS) – have been beset by delays or softened by ministers over time, the researchers said. The CHMM, which was delayed by the previous government, came into force on Tuesday, requiring boiler manufacturers to ensure 6% of their sales are heat pumps or face a fine per installation missed. But the Labour Government reduced the charge from £3,000 to £500 for the first year to give manufacturers – who last year pushed back against what they called a 'boiler tax' – the time they need to scale up supply chains and said it will consult on charges for further years. Meanwhile, the FHS will require new homes built in England to produce fewer carbon emissions than those built under current regulations, with heat pumps likely playing a key role. The proposed regulations were first announced in 2019 but the final specifications, including an implementation date, have yet to be unveiled, with the Government saying it will do so this year. The ECIU said the decreased CHMM fine may no longer result in the policy successfully reducing gas dependence and warned the FHS must require new builds to install heat pumps. Otherwise, the UK will still have to rely on imported gas to meet demand, the group warned. It cited the North Sea Transition Authority's estimates for the amount of gas that could be extracted from existing and future fields, saying even the maximum figures would not cover the projected increase in demand. The UK has seen record numbers of heath pump installations in the last year, partly driven by the Government's boiler upgrade scheme, which provides £7,500 grant funding for households replacing their gas boilers. But the think tank said pushback from the boiler and housebuilding sector could be putting progress at risk. It comes after some manufacturers last year dubbed the policy a 'boiler tax' and said they would hike the price of boilers to cover the costs of any penalties incurred by failing to meet the required level of heat pump sales. Then energy secretary Claire Coutinho condemned the move as 'price gouging' and asked the competition watchdog to investigate, but delayed the scheme's introduction a year regardless. Elsewhere, it was reported boiler industry trade body the Energy and Utilities Alliance (EUA) lobbied against heat pumps while major housebuilders lobbied against previous new home standards which led to them being scrapped in 2016, and more recently against the FHS. Lord Callanan, former minister for energy efficiency and green finance at the Energy Department (DESNZ), said: 'Corporate lobbying from the gas boiler industry and housebuilders against the rollout of heat pumps amounts to getting in the way of our national security. 'The industry's spreading of misinformation about heat pumps and scaremongering around a boiler tax that they themselves invented clearly resulted in the Government giving in and lowering the penalties for non-compliance.' Jess Ralston, energy analyst at the ECIU, said: 'There's no two ways about it, we need to move away from gas boilers if we want to stop the rollercoaster of bill increases that are a result of our reliance on volatile gas prices and to avoid becoming ever more dependent on gas imports.' The Energy Department, Housing Department and EUA have been contacted for comment.
The Independent
18-03-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Badenoch says ‘get real' on net zero and declares 2050 target ‘impossible'
Kemi Badenoch said she will task shadow ministers with finding 'achievable solutions' to delivering cheap, clean energy after declaring that reaching net zero by 2050 is 'impossible'. The Conservative leader said it was time to 'get real' about the target during a speech to launch the party's policy renewal process in London. She said that net zero by 2050 cannot be achieved without 'a significant drop in our living standards, or worse, by bankrupting us.' But naming an alternative date would be 'repeating the same mistake' made in setting the current goal. 'Why is it 2050 in the first place? No-one knows,' she said. The party may later come up with its own target if 'subject matter experts' decide that one is necessary, she said. She said she has not changed her mind after showing support for the net zero by 2050 target set by the Conservatives when she was a minister. 'I haven't changed my mind. What you are describing is collective responsibility,' she said. She has tasked shadow energy secretary Claire Coutinho, with help from shadow Scotland secretary and energy minister Andrew Bowie to look at solutions for delivering cheap and clean energy. 'I am tasking her team with finding and working with the people who know the truth and who can come up with achievable solutions, people who can answer from experience, how we can deliver cheap and clean energy without bankrupting businesses, without eye-watering bills for households, without dependencies on hostile or unstable countries. 'Labour may or may not be interested in these questions, but we are.' She added: 'Someone has to save these noble objectives from the zealots who have hijacked this agenda.' She called herself a 'net zero sceptic' because of overreliance on China and unreliable targets. 'Net zero by 2050 is impossible,' she said. 'I don't say that with pleasure. I want a better future and a better environment for our children, but we have to get real.' Mrs Badenoch said there would be 'more in the weeks ahead' as 'the academics, experts, business people, members from all walks of life' will help the party 'get to the root cause of our country's problems'. A Green Tory group called the policy review a 'crucial opportunity to build a credible, election-winning platform on climate change' but said it was a mistake to decide the 2050 target is not possible at this stage. Sam Hall, director of the Conservative Environment Network, said: 'We need a market-oriented plan to decarbonise while growing the economy and strengthening security. 'It is a mistake to have pre-empted the policy review by deciding that net zero by 2050 isn't achievable. 'The target is based not on wishful thinking, but the scientific imperative of stopping the worsening impacts of climate change and preventing unaffordable costs. 'Ditching the target will undermine private enterprise and capital driving the energy transition and alienate voters worried about their children and grandchildren's inheritance.' Environmental group the WWF said Mrs Badenoch is 'ignoring the evidence' that the net zero sector is growing faster than the overall economy. Isabella O'Dowd, WWF's head of climate policy said: 'The UK is a world leader in rolling out renewable energy and in sustainable finance and businesses recognise that decarbonising our economy is the biggest business opportunity of the century.' Dhara Vyas, chief executive of trade group Energy UK, said cutting emissions provides an economic boost and that the 'volatile cost' of fossil fuels is what has driven up energy bills in recent years. 'Of course we need honest conversations about how we fund the costs in a way that is fair to households and businesses – and this also needs to include a consideration of the potential price of inaction,' he said.
