Sue Ferns, Prospect senior deputy general secretary, said:

“This focus from Labour on how to drive up low carbon generation while lowering costs and encouraging quality unionised UK jobs is welcome.

“As we decarbonise electricity generation it is essential that we retain the jobs and skills that we have in traditional generation, and create new jobs - a strong government role could be central to delivering that. It can also help to ensure that the high safety standards unions have achieved in those older industries are transferred to the renewables industry along with an engaged unionised workforce.

“Prospect members will have some questions around the detail of these plans and how the proposed objectives will be delivered, especially as promises of thousands of unionised jobs in renewables have consistently failed to materialise. The ultimate objective must be rapid decarbonisation with a Just Transition for workers. It is evident that both public and private sectors will have an important role to play to make this happen, and we stand ready to work with business and government to secure the greener and fairer future we want to see for the UK.”

ENDS