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Labour forced into embarrassing U-turn as ‘slave-made’ Chinese solar panels to be banned

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Labour forced into embarrassing U-turn as 'slave-made' Chinese solar panels to be banned


Labour has been forced to back-track on a highly controversial plan to use “slave-made” Chinese solar panel components after an overwhelming outcry.

Ed Miliband will now require GB Energy to ensure that “slavery and human trafficking is not taking place” in its supply chain.


This change comes after Labour was branded “shameful in the extreme” last month when the party instructed its MPs to vote down an anti-slavery amendment to the Great British Energy Bill.

As a result, solar panels, wind turbines and batteries containing materials suspected of being produced through forced labour will be prohibited from use by GB Energy.

A Government source told The Times that the change came after “recognition of the strength of feeling” among the 92 MPs who abstained in the previous vote.

Last month, Tory energy spokesman Andrew Bowie called it a “day of shame” for Labour after MPs voted 314 to 198 to reject the anti-slavery amendment.

Miliband meets China's Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang

Ed Miliband meets China’s Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang

GETTY

And now, the ban has been labelled a “long-overdue move” by John Flesher of the Conservative Environment Network.

Despite several Labour MPs criticising the Bill and 92 abstaining, none rebelled when it came to a vote.

Miliband had previously said installing the panels would save the public sector money on electricity bills.

He had conceded that some panels would come from China, which promptly raised concerns about their origins and manufacturing conditions.

China is responsible for around 80 per cent of the global supply of solar panels, while its Xinjiang region produces between 35 and 40 per cent of the world’s polysilicon, a key component of solar panels.

LATEST ON LABOUR’S CHINA TIES:

Sir Iain Duncan Smith

Tory China hawk Sir Iain Duncan Smith warned last month that Labour would be ‘turning a blind eye to slavery’ if they voted through the Bill

PA

More than a million Uighur people have been detained in Xinjiang – with evidence they are used as forced labour.

Campaigners argue that up to 97 per cent of solar arrays available to buy within the UK contain materials from Xinjiang.

As a result, Tory China hawk Sir Iain Duncan Smith warned last month that Labour would be “turning a blind eye to slavery” if they voted through the Bill.

“It’s the first test for the Labour Government: which side of this do you stand?” he asked.

Starmer and Xi

More than a million Uyghur people have been detained in Xi Jinping’s Xinjiang – with evidence they are used as forced labour

PA

“You used to stand on the side of anti-slavery, but by turning a blind eye, the Government will have put themselves in line with other countries who believe it is okay to turn a blind eye to slavery.

“The choice will be pretty binary: We either think it doesn’t matter if there is slave labour in the supply chain in this particular instance on net zero, or we do.

“And if we do believe there shouldn’t be slave labour in any product, and particularly not the net zero stuff, then the answer is we have to act and say that we’re not going to do it.”

A Department for Energy Security and Net Zero spokesman said: “No industry in the UK should rely on forced labour, and through Great British Energy we have a clear plan to build the supply chains needed to support a new era of clean homegrown power, bringing jobs and investment.”



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Trent Alexander-Arnold: Curtis Jones pays tribute to Liverpool team-mate

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Trent Alexander-Arnold: Curtis Jones pays tribute to Liverpool team-mate

Liverpool midfielder Curtis Jones pays tribute to his departing team-mate Trent Alexander-Arnold following the Reds final game of the season a 1-1 draw against Crystal Palace at Anfield.

MATCH REPORT: Liverpool 1-1 Crystal Palace

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Football gossip: Garnacho, Mitoma, Gyokeres, Martinez, Raya, Mason

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Football gossip: Garnacho, Mitoma, Gyokeres, Martinez, Raya, Mason

Napoli want to sign Alejandro Garnacho after missing out on the Argentine in January, Arsenal join Bayern Munich in the pursuit of Kaoru Mitoma, Viktor Gyokeres will leave Sporting this summer.

Napoli sporting director Giovanni Manna is set to meet with Manchester United over a possible deal for 20-year-old Argentina winger Alejandro Garnacho, who was the subject of a rejected £40m bid from the Italian champions in January. (i paper), external

Arsenal have joined Bayern Munich in the race to sign Brighton‘s 28-year-old Japan midfielder Kaoru Mitoma. (Sky Germany), external

Sweden forward Viktor Gyokeres will leave Sporting this summer. The 26-year-old is linked with Arsenal and Chelsea and has an agreement with the Portuguese club to allow him to leave for less than his £84m release clause. (Sky Sports), external

Arsenal want Aston Villa‘s Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, 32, to return to the club amid interest from Real Madrid in their 29-year-old Spain shot-stopper David Raya. (Sun), external

Tottenham assistant manager Ryan Mason is the leading candidate to become West Brom boss. (Talksport), external

Leicester City have made a bid to sign 18-year-old Guinean forward Abdoul Karim Traore from French club Bourg-en-Bresse. (Foot Mercato – in French), external

Arsenal want Ghana defensive midfielder Thomas Partey to remain with the club beyond his current deal, which expires in the summer, despite being linked with Real Sociedad’s 26-year-old Spain midfielder Martin Zubimendi. (football.london), external

Napoli have offered 33-year-old Belgium midfielder Kevin de Bruyne a £23m salary over a three-year deal following his departure from Manchester City this summer. (Fabrizio Romano), external

Napoli president Aurelio de Laurentiis has confirmed the club’s interest in De Bruyne. (II Mattino, via Mirror), external

Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta has held talks with AC Milan winger Rafael Leao, 25, in a bid to persuade him to move to Emirates Stadium this summer. (TeamTalk), external

Norwich City have approached Bristol City manager Liam Manning over potentially taking charge at Carrow Road next season. (Telegraph – subscription required), external

Arsenal have made an offer to sign 21-year-old RB Leipzig forward Benjamin Sesko. (Fichajes – in Spanish), external

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Ruud van Nistelrooy: Leicester manager says ‘no talks’ yet on future

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Ruud van Nistelrooy: Leicester manager says 'no talks' yet on future

Leicester manager Ruud van Nistelrooy says he has not yet had any talks with the club about his future but that they “need to happen”.

The Dutchman signed a contract until June 2027 and is understood to want to remain in charge of the Foxes, but reports say former Southampton boss Russell Martin is a contender to take his job.

Already relegated Leicester bowed out of the Premier League on Sunday with a 2-0 defeat at Bournemouth.

The Leicester boss said he “hopes to speak” with the club about his future following relegation to the Championship.

“I would like to talk and that’s the first thing that needs to happen,” he told BBC Match of the Day.

“It’s been silent and it’s something towards the end of the season, get things done with and then I expect to hear something.”

Leicester finished the season in 18th place, 13 points adrift of safety, and were relegated in April.

He added: “It’s important to start talking and to see how we look into the future. It’s what you need to find out. So far there hasn’t been any conversation but I’m waiting for that to happen.”

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