![Ed Miliband criticised Rishi Sunak over his green credentials](https://img.huffingtonpost.com/asset/6368ca612400001c00c285d1.png?ops=scalefit_720_noupscale)
Ed Miliband hit out at prime minister Rishi Sunak over his green credentials shortly before he headed to the UN climate change summit.
The shadow climate change secretary, and former Labour leader, reminded Sky News that Sunak initially intended not to go to the pivotal meeting of world leaders, COP27, until he U-turned due to the intense backlash.
Miliband also criticised the governmentβs whole approach to fossil fuels at a time when Europe is struggling with an energy crisis due to its reliance on Russian oil and natural gas.
Speaking on Sunday, he said βit makes no senseβ for the government to continue to ban wind power while fossil fuels become more and more expensive.
βItβs now cheaper to save the world than to destroy it,β He explained: βRenewable power β solar, wind and other forms of zero carbon energy are cheaper than fossil fuels.
βThis matters so much, because at home and abroad, we need to be all-in on those renewable and zero-carbon alternatives.β
He said the governmentβs on-shore wind ban, which has been in place for seven years, was βterribleβ.
β³That is driving up [peopleβs] bills,β Miliband continued. βItβs already driven up their bills by Β£100, it will continue to drive up their bills by Β£15 billion between now and 2030 if this ban stays in place.
βSo the government is saying no to the cheapest, cleanest form of power.β
The rising cost of energy bills pushed the government to βfreezeβ the average homeβs annual bill at Β£2,500 for six months, as they had been due to increase to Β£3,500 in October.
This comes down to a surge in demand after the global Covid lockdowns and a restriction in supply, as Russia tries to punish those who support Ukraine in the ongoing war.
Miliband also pointed out another problem with the governmentβs refusal to lift the ban on on-shore wind power.
He said: βAnd by the way, itβs going back on a promise that Jacob Rees-Mogg made when he was the business secretary, where he said they would bring the consenting regime for on-shore wind in line with other infrastructure.
βIt makes no sense, and it makes a complete joke frankly, of Rishi Sunak, the man who couldnβt even decide if he was going to go to Cop27.
βIt makes a complete joke of the idea that heβs somehow a leader on clean energy.β