21st Mar 2025 11:06
(Alliance News) - Ed Miliband has said he is "very confident" the UK government will create "hundreds of thousands" of jobs with its green plans, but did not put a figure on how close it is to Labour's manifesto target of 650,000.
The Energy secretary said net zero represents "the growth opportunity of the 21st century", and that the sector grew at a faster rate than the economy as a whole last year.
It comes as Miliband announced the first major project for the publicly-owned Great British Energy.
Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme on Friday morning, he was asked about 650,000 new jobs pledged in the manifesto.
He told the programme: "We're confident we're going to provide hundreds of thousands of jobs as a result of our drive to net zero.
"This is the growth opportunity of the 21st century. Turn your back on net zero and you turn your back on business investment, good jobs, innovation for the future, and Britain leading in the key industrial areas of the future."
Pushed again on the figures, former Labour leader Miliband said: "I'm very confident that we will create hundreds of thousands of jobs in the green economy." He also said he is "confident" the government will meet its pledges.
Labour's election manifesto last year said: "Our plan will create 650,000 jobs across the country by 2030."
Miliband was speaking to broadcasters as the government detailed the first GB Energy project.
A GBP200 million investment from the clean-energy company's government-funded budget will provide solar panels for the roofs of hundreds of schools and hospitals.
The investment also includes funding for councils and community groups to build local clean power projects, such as community-owned onshore wind, rooftop solar and hydropower in rivers.
Miliband told ITV's Good Morning Britain there are "many schools and hospitals facing sky-high energy bills as a result of our dependence on fossil fuels".
He said: "This will cut bills for schools, 200 schools, 200 hospitals, a 300% increase in the coverage of solar panels in terms of the NHS [National Health Service] in terms of hospitals."
He said the average reduction in a bill would be "GBP25,000 for a school" and "GBP45,000 for a hospital".
By Caitlin Doherty and Emily Beament
Press Association: Finance
source: PA
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