Reform UK leader Richard Tice has called for Tory leader Kemi Badenoch to apologise for being a part of the government which implemented net zero policies, which he claims have “damaged Britain in every single possible way”.
Speaking on GB News, Tice demanded the complete abandonment of net zero targets rather than merely delaying them.
“Scrap the whole wretched thing. It’s making us poorer, it’s putting our bills up, it’s the main reason for the cost of living crisis,” he said.
His comments come as Britain reportedly came “unsettlingly close” to rolling power cuts during this week’s cold weather.
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Energy experts described Wednesday evening as the “tightest day the GB electricity market has seen since 2011”, with the power market coming within 580 MW of requiring demand control measures.
Former Cabinet minister Lord Frost warned in The Telegraph that the situation “will only get worse over time” as the country becomes increasingly reliant on renewable energy.
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Richard Tice joined Stephen Dixon and Ellie Costello on GB News
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The National Grid struggled particularly with low wind power output and no solar generation during nighttime hours.
Energy Minister Michael Shanks dismissed concerns about potential blackouts, calling them “extremist scaremongering”.
He told the Commons that “at no point” were blackouts a concern for the Government during the recent cold snap.
“Our systems worked entirely as intended,” Shanks said. “We have sufficient gas supply and electricity capacity to meet demand this winter, due to our diverse and resilient system.”
Richard Tice says net zero has made us all poorer
GB NEWS
The Government maintains that energy security remains a key priority despite warnings from British Gas owner Centrica about low gas storage levels.
Meanwhile, Energy Secretary Ed Miliband is pushing forward with ambitious plans to reach 95 per cent clean energy in the UK by 2030.
However, Miliband clarified the government’s position on gas boilers during Wednesday’s Energy Security and Net Zero Committee meeting.
He confirmed there are no plans to introduce a future ban on gas boilers, citing concerns about potential costs to consumers.
Miliband expressed wariness about setting specific dates for phasing out gas boilers without guaranteeing cheaper green alternatives.
Tice emphasised his stance on GB News, stating: “Scrap net zero. You get lower bills, lower cost of living. Simple as that.”
His comments align with recent warnings from shadow energy minister Andrew Bowie, who cautioned that the government’s drive to decarbonise the electricity grid was “playing fast and loose with our ability to keep the lights on”.
Bowie warned that rushing into a renewable energy dominated system would leave the UK dependent on foreign imports and send bills soaring.
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