As we go to pixel Britain is reliant on electric energy to keep us from the chill and currently 45% of that energy is coming from gas, wind is supplying 32%, nuclear 5% and other sources are at the single digit percentage level. One of those sources being the last coal power plant at Ratcliffe-on-Soar, contributing some 3.4% to the nation’s electricity production, marking its busiest week of the year. Britain’s last coal station is scheduled to shut-down in September. Next winter there will be no coal power to fall back on…

This sacrifice by Britain – which has plenty of coal reserves – will make no real difference to global carbon emissions. In fact global power generation hit new highs in 2023. Coal-fired electricity generation increased last year in China, India, the Philippines, Turkey and Vietnam. Greta needs to go East.

If the wind were to be calmed today Britain would simply not have enough energy to meet demand. This will inevitably happen at some point. Building small nuclear reactors to replace coal-powered base demand should be an urgent priority – much more important than building migrant hotels in Rwanda for example. The inability of Britain to get on with industrial and infrastructure projects is pathetic. For example – and not entirely unrelated – Britain will soon be one of the few major advanced industrial economies without a large scale modern electric battery production sector. The demand is there, what is holding Britain back from getting on with building supply?

The elected mayor of Copeland has called out Ed Miliband’s opposition to a new coal mine up in Cumbria, and invited him to debate the issue up in his home town that would actually enjoy the new jobs and improved livelihoods – away from Miliband’s North London metropolitan comrades. Independent Mayor Mike Starkie wrote to Miliband in the dying days of 2022, calling on him to visit the area and give him the opportunity to “articulate your views and that of your party” in front of Copeland residents.

“My unequivocal support for the mine remains and I look forward to the substantial number of modern jobs being created and, the millions of pounds of direct and indirect investment into Copeland.

“I am aware of Labour’s position regarding the mine, and I am also very aware that you have stated that a Labour government would seek to ensure the mine does not open and will instead deliver new green jobs that people in Cumbria deserve.

“I understand that you are planning to visit the area in the near future and would ask if you would consider joining me for a debate, attended exclusively by Copeland residents, to discuss our differing opinions. This would be a chance for you to articulate your views and that of your party. 

“I will also set out why I am an avid supporter of the mine, and the many benefits it will bring to Copeland, Cumbria, and the UK.”

Will Miliband take up the offer? Guido’s only too happy to flag Miliband’s constant mining flip-flopping ahead of Mayor Starkie’s debate prep…

The European Commission on Wednesday allowed for the transfer of Russian coal to ease “energy insecurity around the world”. A positive development for the Kremlin’s coffers, this softened the prior sanctions package, which had prohibited EU actors from transferring or providing services for Russian supplies. This comes at a time when the EU is supposed to be phasing out coal use in pursuit of net zero targets. The decision was pushed through despite reported opposition from member states, including Poland and the Baltics. It also comes as Russia gears up for an escalation. They certainly picked their moment…

What makes this policy shift the more bemusing is the gulf between supranational word and deed. The move follows von der Leyen’s State of the Union address, where she promised an “unshakeable” solidarity with Ukraine, whilst committing to reduce dependency on fossil fuels. Barely a week has passed and already two of her priorities have been dealt a self-inflicted hammer blow.

For all the ministerial talk in the last few years on cutting down on fossil fuels and bolstering “energy security“, new BEIS data released today shows just how much hot air that’s turned out to be. According to these figures, Russian imported coal has skyrocketed from 18% to 35% of the UK’s total coal use in the last two years. This is a direct consequence of the government’s refusal to replace domestic short-term surface coal mines back in 2020. The last English and Scottish coal mines were closed last year…

If Britain wants to make steel – and it is strategically important that we do – until we are producing abundant industrial hydrogen there is no viable alternative to coal. The trend in supply was obvious to anyone paying attention at the time – in fact, Guido published an article (Does Robert Jenrick work for… Vladimir Putin?) in 2020 predicting exactly how this would turn out. Even as the UK’s overall coal consumption has obviously fallen in favour of renewables, the demand hasn’t been completely wiped out. We still need around 7 million tonnes a year, 35% of which is now met by Russian imports rather than the UK’s own surface coal. So much for energy independence…

The BBC’s climate editor Justin Rowlatt lost his cool interviewing Boris this morning, as he tried pointing out the discrepancy between the PM’s words on phasing out coal and the UK building a new coal mine. Rowlatt ended up yelling at Boris:

“…at the same time as not ruling out a new coal mine in Britain – a new coal mine in Britain! We started the industrial revolution, we should close the mines!”

He did manage to stop himself just short of overtly calling the PM a hypocrite at one point, so one headache avoided for the BBC…

Incidentally the proposed coal mine is not for energy production – which would be against the government’s Net Zero policy – it is for steel production. If the coking coal produced isn’t extracted in the UK it will have to be imported – generating far more pollution. Likewise, if steel is not manufactured in the UK it will need to be imported – generating far more pollution. The UK coal plant will also be far more environmentally sensitive than the alternative. If Britain is to level up and remain an industrial manufacturer, it is an essential resource…

UPDATE: A co-conspirator rightly points out that Justin Rowlatt’s sister, Cordelia, is a twice-arrested Insulate Britain activist whose name even appears on a National Highways injunction for her repeated protests. Surprise, surprise.

It will have been difficult to miss the concocted outrage from left-wingers overnight after it emerged Boris made a joke about Thatcher’s transitioning of Britain from coal to lower emission energy sources on a visit:

“Look at what we’ve done already. We’ve transitioned away from coal in my lifetime. Thanks to Margaret Thatcher who closed so many coal mines [the Prime Minister then laughs] across the country where we had had a big early start and we’re now moving rapidly away from coal altogether… I thought that would get you going!”

A literal day at the coalface…

Lisa Nandy was first out of the gates to criticise the light hearted remarks, despite previously calling for Britain’s coal stations to be closed because they’re so polluting.

It's been clear for years that Britain's coal stations are so old and so polluting they would need to close over the next decade 1/3

— Lisa Nandy (@lisanandy) November 18, 2015

Keir Starmer is also furious, despite having spent months opposing a new coal mine in Cumbria as bad for the environment. Sounding like quite the Thatcherite. 

While the left may refuse to acknowledge it, Thatcher was undeniably the first eco-conscious PM. As the Guardian wrote upon her passing:

“she helped put climate change (or global warming as it was then known), acid rain and pollution on to the mainstream political map.”

She famously told the UN general assembly in 1989 “It is mankind and his activities that are changing the environment of our planet in damaging and dangerous ways. The result is that change in future is likely to be more fundamental and more widespread than anything we have known hitherto.” She then took the cause to the Tory faithful:

For some reason, Labour is less willing to acknowledge Harold Wilson’s much greater role in closing British coal mines. Greta would have been proud…