Latest news with #KerryMcCarthy
Daily Record
29-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
OVO Energy announces 'critical' update that will benefit millions of UK customers
The energy firm is set to stage an energy summit aimed at boosting the Labor Government's community energy ambitions, with millions of UK households set to benefit. OVO Energy is gearing up to host an energy summit aimed at strengthening the Labour Government's community energy ambitions. Just last week, OVO teamed up with Kerry McCarthy, Bristol East MP and Climate Minister, to gather policy makers, industry experts and leading green businesses. The collective groups discussed the urgent need to speed up community energy development. MP McCarthy underscored the crucial role of community energy in achieving the Labour Government's clean power targets, while also providing tangible benefits to constituents and businesses throughout her area. Attendees explored how community-led energy projects, from solar panels to local wind initiatives, can tackle the climate crisis while enhancing local job opportunities, boosting resilience, and fostering innovation, potentially benefiting millions of UK households in the future. This comes on the heels of OVO's introduction of People Powered: How Communities Can Fund and Sell Their Own Power, a guidebook aimed at making community energy more accessible to the average person. The manual offers practical advice on funding, regulatory compliance, and community engagement, aiming to overcome the hurdles that often stall grassroots initiatives, according to the Mirror. Stephen Harris, VP Energy Markets and Optimisation, stated: "Community energy has a critical role to play in the net zero transition – not just in generating clean power, but also in ensuring that communities benefit from the investment made into decarbonisation. We are thrilled to be launching our community energy toolkit, alongside our MP Kerry McCarthy, to help more people access the benefits of local, renewable power." Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. In their toolkit, OVO declared: "At OVO, we believe community energy has a critical role to play in the net zero transition. Through our work setting up Power Purchase Agreements with community energy projects across the UK, we've seen first-hand the determination and ambition these groups bring to delivering local, renewable energy. "But it's also clear that the system isn't always set up to let this ambition thrive – with regulatory, financial and structural barriers too often standing in the way." They added: "Across the UK, communities are already leading the charge. But getting a project off the ground isn't always easy. "That's why we've created People Powered: How Communities Can Fund and Sell Their Own Power – a practical guide to help community groups navigate the complex world of finance and Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs)." As stated on their website, OVO is dedicated to becoming a net-zero carbon business by 2035. This commitment is detailed in their Plan Zero strategy, which aims to lessen their dependence on offsets and assist UK households in reducing their bill costs.
The Independent
15-07-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
MP accused of ‘hiding' for Commons statement says she was looking after her baby
An MP has hit back at Energy Secretary Ed Miliband for accusing her of 'going into hiding' when she missed a statement on climate change, telling MPs she was actually looking after her son. Shadow energy secretary Claire Coutinho said Mr Miliband should reconsider his remarks, claiming it is an attitude faced by many new mothers when they return to work. 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.'
Telegraph
15-07-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Miliband sorry for saying Tory MP was ‘hiding' when she was caring for baby
Ed Miliband apologised after wrongly accusing a shadow Tory minister of 'hiding' when she was looking after her baby son. The Energy Secretary claimed that Claire Coutinho had deliberately missed his statement on climate change to the Commons on Monday. Pointing out the shadow energy secretary's absence, 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.' However, Ms Coutinho told Mr Miliband to reconsider his remarks, saying that she was looking after her six-month-old son, Rafael. The MP for East Surrey has recently returned to the Commons from maternity leave. She also claimed that this was an attitude faced by many new mothers when they returned to work. Other remarks Kerry McCarthy, the energy minister, also remarked on her prior absence during energy questions on Tuesday. Ms Coutinho had asked her why the Government was 'offshoring' British industries, and replacing them with dirtier imports with higher emissions. Ms McCarthy replied: 'Perhaps if [Ms Coutinho] had been here yesterday, she'd have been able to engage with the Secretary of State about that then.' Ms Coutinho later told MPs that she had been missing from the Commons as she was looking after her son. 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.'
Yahoo
15-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Shadow minister hits back at claims she was in ‘hiding' when with her baby
A shadow minister has rebuked the Energy Secretary for accusing her of 'going into hiding' when she missed a statement on climate change, as she told MPs she was looking after her baby son. Shadow energy secretary Claire Coutinho said Ed Miliband should reconsider his remarks, claiming it is an attitude faced by many new mothers when they return to work. 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.'
Irish Post
15-07-2025
- Business
- Irish Post
Ireland and the UK extend agreement to cooperate on energy transition goals
IRELAND and the UK have confirmed they will extend an existing agreement supporting greater cooperation between them on shared energy transition goals. In 2023 both nations signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Cooperation in the Energy Transition, Offshore Renewables and Electricity Interconnection. The move facilitated increased cooperation between them on a number of specific areas within their goals to transition to renewable energy sources. Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment Darragh O'Brien and British Climate Minister Kerry McCarthy sign an extension on their memorandum of understanding extended on energy cooperation This week Ireland's Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment Darragh O'Brien and British Climate Minister Kerry McCarthy, from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, signed an extension to the MOU. The move will allow for further cooperation and information sharing between them on issues such as the decarbonisation of industries and buildings and the development of renewable and low-carbon hydrogen value chains. 'The UK is one of our most important energy partners and there is already good cooperation on energy between both countries,' Minister O'Brien said. 'Since the signing of our energy agreement with the UK in 2023, we have strengthened our energy partnerships on critical areas within the energy transition,' he explained. 'I am particularly delighted that we will now bring our cooperation to additional areas of importance.' He added: "Renewed collaboration with our UK neighbours takes place against the backdrop of a changing and uncertain world. 'Energy markets are currently operating in an increasingly complex world as they continue to grapple with the Russia-Ukraine war, and the crisis in the Middle East, and persistent high inflation. 'This agreement also comes amid a series of recent climate warnings, with the latest warning noting how western Europe experienced its hottest June on record. 'The decarbonisation of our energy systems and the move away from fossil fuels has never been more important." Minister McCarthy said their agreement 'demonstrates the continued strength of our relationship on energy and climate'. "As one of our closest neighbours and allies, Ireland shares common goals with the UK on the need to secure clean, homegrown energy and to end our reliance on unstable fossil fuel markets,' she added. 'We are delighted to stand with Ireland as a climate leader, to protect future generations and deliver growth and energy security for the British and Irish people." After signing the agreement, the ministers held a meeting in Dublin to discuss their 'energy-related ambitions, with energy affordability one of the items top of their discussion agenda', Minister O'Brien's office confirmed. See More: Energy Transition, Ireland, Memorandum Of Understanding, UK
