The battle between Labour’s pro-growth wing and the net zero zealots rumbles on. Last week, it was Heathrow expansion—when Rachel Reeves, desperate to prove her economic credentials, threw her weight behind a third runway. Ed Miliband and his eco-warrior allies weren’t happy then…
Now a fresh row deepens the divide in the party, as Reeves and Starmer are gearing up to give the green light to the UK’s two biggest offshore oil and gas projects—Rosebank and Jackdaw. The boss of energy giant Equinor has already warned Miliband that blocking these developments would wreck the UK’s reputation with investors. That’s not just hot air…
Miliband has in the past slammed the Rosebank licence as “climate vandalism”. Meanwhile, the Labour Growth Group—a group of mostly New Labour MPs pushing hard on housing and infrastructure—are said to be against the oil developments. Some backbenchers are fuming, saying “This is a line in the sand for almost everyone in the PLP,” and “a breaking point for a lot of us” as more grumbles about U-turning on manifesto pledges sow deeper divides. If Reeves and Starmer override Ed again in pursuit of the almighty G-word, it could be his breaking point…
Sarah Pochin at Reform Scotland’s manifesto launch event: “I really wanted to come on in a Reform tartan burka, but apparently I wasn’t allowed… One day let’s do one of these events not live-streamed. We’ll do all the naughty stuff…”