LIVE: Sir Keir Starmer gives speech on clean energy

than [Applause] good morning my name is Susan wisman and I'm one of the business development managers here at Hutchinson engineering I speak on behalf of my colleagues when I say it's our pleasure to welcome you to our site today in witness we're able to showcase our unique capabilities we manufacture high integrity specialized steel Fabrications our steel structures are generally in operation in the most challenging environments we are proud to supply high integrity steel Fabrications such as the wind turbine Towers you see behind me our capabilities have a very positive impact around the world enabling us to contribute to Green sustainable energy that powers our homes and our businesses without further Ado it is my great privilege to introduce our secretary Secretary of State for energy security and for Net Zero of the UK Ed Milly band well thank you so much Susan and can I thank all the workforce here and Hutchinson the man management uh for welcoming us to this fantastic facility you are the future of clean energy manufacturing so thank you for having us here and I'm delighted to be here with the prime minister to set out our plans for Great British energy you know every family and business in the country every worker here has paid the price of Britain's energy insecurity during the cost of living crisis over the last couple of years and because we are exposed as a country independent forecasts show energy bills are expected to rise again in the Autumn showing just how vulnerable we are but there is an answer the climate change committee the independent Watchdog put it very well last week they said british-based renewable energy is the cheapest and fastest way to reduce vulnerability to Global fossil fuel markets the faster we get off fossil fuels the more secure we become they are right a Sprint for clean energy is a root to energy Independence because dictators and pro states don't control it it's the best insurance policy against the gations of fossil fuel markets and another price shock and the best way to keep bills down for good today we introduced The Great British Energy bill in Parliament the first bill in decades to establish a uk-wide publicly owned energy generation company now you may find it hard to believe we already have widespread public ownership of our energy in this country but it's by Foreign governments of France Denmark Norway and Sweden these nations know that modern public ownership is part of a successful energy policy and Industrial strategy this government believes it is time for the British people to make things and own things again GB energy will be an owner and investor it will work with the private sector to build the clean energy we need create good jobs like those here at Hutchinson and generate a return for the taxpayer a national champion headquartered in Scotland investing in Technologies such as wind tidal hydrogen nuclear carbon capture across the country scaling up Community energy through a local power plan and ensuring a just transition for our oil and gas communities and we know we need to act with boldness and Imagination to deliver our mission and so today we're also announcing a historic partnership between Great British energy and the crown estate this new partnership se's one of our oldest National institutions partnering with our newest to produce three weeks into the new government a new body Great British energy the crown estate a lasting institution that will go beyond one term or one government to Steward Britain's energy resources for the benefit of the nation speeding up delivery of clean power Building Supply chains driving inest investment and delivering jobs the billions of capitalization of Great British energy will help to unlock tens of billions more now we're under no Illusions about the scale of the challenges we have inherited from energy security to The Climate crisis all what it will take to deliver our long-term plan for this country but in our first weeks we have shown that this is a government that will act equal to the urgency of our nation's challenges fulfilling the Mandate for change the British people gave us and now it's my enormous privilege to introduce my friend the Prime Minister Sak D thank you Ed thank you Susan that was a fantastic introduction it's never easy to do it but you were absolutely fantastic and really good to see your colleagues here as well thank you all for that warm introduction when we arrived thank you for what you do and thank you for being here this morning we want to do a lot of work with you and this is something the media will know I said it many times in the uh election campaign my dad was a toour maker um and he worked particularly with steel as you do in tool making of the sort that he was doing and so this I love environments like this this is what I grew up uh in factories like this with my dad doing the work that he did highly skilled really important work working with steal the sorts of work that you're doing I love being in these places thank you for giving up your time to listen to us this morning I really really um appreciate it and it's great to be in Rancor it's great to be here uh with Ed the energy secretary in the third week of this labor government it hardly seems possible that 3 weeks ago today literally we were still knocking on doors trying to persuade people to vote for us and here we are uh back to show that the work of change has already begun um and the hard graft of rebuilding this country has truly started and it is vital uh that we begin immediately uh because the last government dropped the ball they left us the worst inheritance since the second world war and every day every day we're finding more mess that they've left for us to clear up the rot of shortsightedness and self service that has weakened the foundations of our country we've started the rebuilding but the problems that have been left to fester for years can't be cleared up overnight and cast your minds back to 10 years ago by way of example when the conservative government cut investment in clean British power that impacts on your jobs they told you that a clean energy future was possible as they blocked companies from building it they offered the jobs of the future while they sat out the race and that wasn't an oversight it was an active Choice another example of the chaos that characterized their government a failure to serve our country in my view they banned onshore wind think of the impact that has had on your jobs they slash support for home insulation they cut investment in Renewables and people have paid the price for their negligence when Russia invaded Ukraine we were left more exposed than other countries and that meant Putin pushed our bills up every family and every business has felt the impact of that we've lost a decade of opportunity missed chances to boost our energy security to cut bills and create good jobs people up and down down the country have literally paid the price of that shortsightedness and we should be in no doubt for as long as we remain reliant on foreign dictators for fossil fuels this country will be exposed to Future Energy shocks like the one that we've just had and as usual it will be working people who are hit hardest in these crisis but now there is a massive prize within our reach and make no mistake the race is on to get there until now I feel like we've been sort of tying up our laces in the changing room no more I don't just want to be in the race for clean energy I want us to win the race for clean energy and why not we've got the potential we've got the ports we've got the people the skills and now we've got a missionary government determined to take advantage of these opportunities so in week one of government we lifted the ban on onshore wind we committed to unblock solar power begun solar rooftop Revolution on new homes and businesses and last week we introduced a bell in the King speech to create Great British energy a publicly owned Energy company making money for the taxpayer creating the next generation of good jobs and taking Putin's boot off our throat once and for all and doing our duty to the planet and to the Next Generation so today I'm delighted to announce we've repainted joggen Meyer who is here today with us to chair Great British energy ygen thank you so much for taking out this really important role he brings huge credibility as the former Chief exec itive of seaman UK one of the largest producers of turbines in this country and as I was just saying I'm visited Seamans uh in a number of places in Crawley and in Glasgow and when I did I was really struck by the apprentices there the young people that will be skilled up for the future and I know that Yogen will bring that experience to the success of GB energy and of course to our nation because I've always been clear that mission driven government that's a government with a driving sense of purpose knowing what it wants to achieve making decisions that are measured in years is all about Partnerships working together to deliver for the British people so I'm delighted that Great British energy our new National Institution will be partnering with the crown estate and I'm really pleased that we can make that announcement today and that Dan laad is here with us from the crown estate now this partnership will deliver and it will deliver big on the one hand Great British energy at the heart of our industrial policy with its own resources and 8.3 billion pounds to invest in the Technologies of the future floating wind tidal Power Nuclear and clean power projects across the UK and on the other hand the expertise of the crown estate there ownership of the seabed their 16 billion pound asset base and the new borrowing and investment powers that we will give them together they will work with the market exploiting capabilities that only the government has and crowding in the very best from the private sector because this government isn't driven by ideology but by our determination to deliver for the British people so we will be Pro business pro worker and pro wealth creation for all maximizing our assets rather than flogging them off to bring a better return for the taxpayer and this new partnership Great British energy the crown estate will unleash a tidal wave of public and private investment to drive the low carbon transition create good secure jobs and Supply chains across Britain Fast Track energy projects already in the pipeline and make the UK a world leader in the clean Technologies of the future now we owe that to the Next Generation in Grimsby I met apprentices working on onore offshore wind highly skilled young people proud of the jobs that they were doing they were maintaining the turbines out to see on a twoe rotor really Keen to play their part in the clean energy Revolution and there are princes like that the next generation of jobs across the country and this is key to the decade of national renewal that this country needs stewarding our energy resources for the benefit of the whole nation for years to come powering Britain from the seabeds of the North Sea to the Celtic Sea and I want to be clear we will work with our counterparts in Scotland every step of the way as a grown-up government in the service of working people across the entire United Kingdom Scotland will lead the clean energy Revolution GB energy will be headquartered in Scotland and I know everyone I speak to seems to have a good case for it being based in their town or city but we're not going to announce that today but I can confirm this GB energy will bring good jobs and long-term investment to our industrial hearts and Coastal communities you know how important that is to your jobs the jobs of those that will come uh as apprentices and young people in the future in places like this those jobs it will save fam's money and harness our National Assets to deliver energy Independence now change on that scale will not happen overnight but today we've taken that First Step immediately a down payment on our mission for clean Power by 2030 and accelerating to Net Zero we said we would set up Great British energy and we have we said we would create good jobs and cut your bills and we will the race has started the work has begun the planet and the people of this country will reap the benefits for decades to come thank you very much for listening to me I'm now going to take a number of questions from the media but then the will I do want the opportunity to talk to uh some of you so we'll get this out the way first and then we'll have the opportunity to talk I want to hear your uh views your perspective um anything you want to talk to me and Ed about please take that opportunity in just a moment um let's do media first I've got Simon Jack from the BBC Simon thank you prime minister Simon Jack BBC News what's your message to the 200,000 people who work in the oil and gas sector throughout the UK uh the unions say they risk being the minors of their generation and we've already seen investment walk away from domestic oil and gas resources here and if I may ask a quick what a second one um what was your reaction to the pictures of the police officer clearly kicking and in on the head of a well for those working in oil and gas can I start by saying thank you for all the hard work that they have done on the energy that we've had in this country for many many years um second that we will manage through this transition in a way that ensures we have the next generation of jobs and the generation after um everybody knows that oil and gas will be part of the mix for many years to come none of the licenses that have been granted are going to be revoked or interfered with by us but a transition is coming to Renewables everybody knows that everybody in the sector knows that um and what you have with Mission driven government Purpose Driven government uh is an absolute determination to see that as an opportunity and to manage that transition in a fair way particularly for those that are working in oil and gas and the worst thing we could do knowing that that transition is coming because oil and gas is running out the worst thing we could do is nothing or to go slowly because we had a transition you'll remember this away from coal and the government at the time did not do the forward planning for the next generation of jobs there are communities across the country still feeling the effects of that I'm never going to let that happen under a labor government so we will work with all of those in the sector now all of those who will continue to have the skilled jobs that we need in the places we need them but the best thing we can do for jobs in this country energy sector is to seize this opportunity and work through it in a fair way in relation to the footage emerging uh from Manchester that you mentioned in the second part of your question look I understand uh the Public's concerned I've seen it myself and understand that concern there have now been I think the suspension of one police officer uh this morning um and the Home Secretary um is meeting the mayor of Manchester uh to discuss this um as we speak now thank you I'll go to sheab please from ITV sheab KH from ITV News prime minister can you guarantee that GB energy will result in people's energy Bills going down and if so when are you expecting that to happen and a second question if I may there's an ITV documentary thats tonight about unlawful press intrusion which is renewed calls for a public inquiry the father of madin mccan has spoken to ITV News in which he says it is critical that the government has the courage and integrity to keep its promises and proceed with the second half of the Levon inquiry prime minister will you keep that promise and what do you say to Jerry mccan and other victims let me deal with the second part um first we've set out in our Manifesto our program for action for this government we've laid that out in The King's Speech um that clearly sets out our priorities um and the second half of leveron is not among them um I've been clear that one of the purposes of mission driven government is to be clear about what we can achieve the time frame the purpose we need to put to it um but also that it dictates our priorities in government given the mess that we've inherited and we're finding more of it every day it's really important that we keep to those um priorities um in relation to bills yes this will drive down bills um this move to renewable energy has a number of material advantages because every family and every business has paid higher bills in energy in recent years because of the in action of the last 10 years so this will drive down bills it gives us energy Independence because at the moment we're relying on the international market that means when you get uh issues like the invasion of Ukraine that has an effect that's why bills have gone up and it's been worse in this country than in other countries um so it gives us that security uh and it also gives us the Next Generation of jobs but it will push bills down and that's the sort of number one issue behind Renewables bills will go down and not for a short time um but actually permanently and for every family and every business across the country that is hugely important thank you I'll go to Tom uh sky thank you Mr Tom CLK Sky News um on that point even with the measures you brought in today big offshore wind farms are still going to take years to develop there's hundreds of billions of pound investment needed to get to your 2030 low carbon energy targets but just 8.3 billion pounds in GB energy can you be at all confident in your pledge to voters that you will lower their bills in the short term yes and I'll tell you for why the the money that's going into to GB energy is intended to be a catalyst for private investment and the partnership that we've announced today with the crown estate I think will give great confidence to investors about the determination that we have the speed at which we're willing to take decisions um and this this is a historic partnership this has never been done um before it's a real game Cher and here we are three weeks into a labor government making that um announcement today look it will take time um for this uh to develop it will take time before we're able to get the benefits from clean power but that's why we're moving at PACE because the inaction of the last 10 years has cost every family and every business so we need to move at PACE to get those bills down but I think today this announcement is a historic announcement I think it'll give great confidence to the private sector to come up alongside um a mission driven government a purpose-driven government a government if I may say so with a mandate strong enough to take decisions that are measured in years not months that's been a huge problem of the last uh 14 years but last eight years in particular with a strong sense uh of industrial strategy and a a fundamental belief that we should own and make things in Britain I think everybody here would agree uh with that sentiment that um we have the capability we've got the skills we've got the workforce uh we've got the talent uh let's own more and make more in Britain thank you very much um Katherine GB news thank you prime minister Katherine forer GB news um you see Green Technology as a huge opportunity for growth for jobs for energy security asked about bills a little bit but for ordinary families obviously this is going to take many years can you tell us specifically will people start to see a drop in their bills in this Parliament and if so by how much or will it take longer than that thank you oh we certainly want to get those bills down in this Parliament and every step we take that's all you know we've already announced uh what we're going to do in relation to solar energy to onshore wind today obviously announced what we're making about GB energy each of these steps will bring down bills uh the timing will depend on the implementation but the fact that within three weeks we've already taken some of the key decisions allows us to move a pace so I want to see those bills go down um in this Parliament we've made that pledge that's what we intend um to do um and it is really important because so many people have been hammered by their energy bills in the last few years talk to any business up and down the country and asked them what's Your Number One Challenge and i' put money these days on most of them saying it's my energy bill it's far too high I need to get it down and families have struggled with their energy bills and therefore have to make difficult choices about what else they do but look it's it is about making these decisions early on um we have I think in the first three weeks now shown a real intent to make the that's necessary to get those bills down thank you so much I've got Rob from ITV Granada thank you prime minister and good morning a question on the incident at Manchester Airport prime minister you know the Law and Order system in this country better than most people in this country former director of public prosecutions your government now leads me on it's not me joy when the phone rings your government now shapes that very system you've seen that video of that police officer what do you say to other people who have seen it who are now questioning their trust in that Law and Order system people like those protesting in rdale last night raising issues and concerns about institutional racism and police prct well I have seen the footage and for that reason I do understand the public concern um obviously action has now been taken in relation to the suspension of an officer and the Home Secretary is already having those discussions with the mayor of Manchester um I think they've already have happened or they've they're taking place as we speak and she has made sure that she's kept updated on developments um ever since the incident and so obviously there's a process now that will go into place but um I completely understand the public concern um having seen the footage myself thank you I've got Max from the times prime minister Max candex at the times in the last 35 years there have only been two site licenses granted to build new nuclear plants and in one of those cases is uh the funding is still up in the air the previous government set an ambition of building a new nuclear reactor every year is that also your ambition nuclear is very much part of the mix as we go forward um and we will be pushing hard on it I've already had discussions With the Energy Secretary about how we can speed up when it comes to nuclear I have to say um as we've found in other departments um I'm pretty app B at what we're finding in the decisions of the previous government in terms of the speed of projects the lack of thinking through of how quickly projects can be delived uh and the funding that's been put um behind them we will clear that up um and we'll move this on because nuclear is very much part of the energy mix as we go forward and uh the task I've set the energy secretary is to take such steps as are necessary to make sure this is delivered faster and more efficiently um and to do that as quickly as possible thank you um Emma from the telegraph Emma thank you prime minister during the election campaign labor suggested bills would be brought down around £300 a year by 2030 by your Net Zero Energy uh plans do you stand by that figure how much can households expect to save uh yes I do um I stand by everything in our Manifesto and one of the things I made clear in the election campaign is because I wouldn't make a single promise or commitment that I didn't think we could deliver in government um and that's why um we carefully uh costed and funded everything in our Manifesto that does depend on early firm decisions being made which is why we've set up GB energy why we've announced the partnership today with the crown estate um and why the energy secretary has already taken action in week one in relation to onshore wind um in relation to um solar energy um and and also pushing on with nuclear um so I stand by that commitment um what this brings us is lower bills energy security the next generation of jobs and of course an important contribution to our obligations in relation to the planet thank you uh Peter from The Guardian hi yeah thanks um it's one thing to get the wind turbines built but something that often kind of slows this down is transporting the electricity across the country people get bogged down in these planning battles um at Prime Minister's questions yesterday you were quite scathing towards Adrian Ramsey the greens Co leader for the fact that he's opposed um overhead lines in the area that he represents can you guarantee you'll be that tough on labor councils or labor MPS who take a similar nimish attitude and will you guarantee that if it has to be done then all this electricity from these new plants will be brought overground rather than much more expensive and slower undee or uh underground we will take the tough decisions to make this work because it's the failure to take the tough decisions and the running away from tough decisions that has caused over a decade of lost opportunity so we'll take those tough decisions that will include decisions on planning where we intend to make the necessary changes and that will apply everywhere um whatever the rosett on the constituency um because we have to move this forward and you know I've given this example before but I'll give it again because it certainly brings it home um when I Was preparing for government I went through um with those that know what they're talking about including CEOs of energy companies how quickly an onshore Wind Farm could be built the answer to that is on the engineering the skills side about two years but unless we change things it then takes 13 years before we get any power because you lose 5 years in planning another five six seven years to get the grid to connect we are not going to go on like that we're not going to go on like that we will take the tough decision to cut through um that and so yes uh that's the approach that we've set out yes I think we've shown already our metal in relation to this and we'll press on with the planning aspects just as quickly and just as determinedly as we pressed on with creating GB energy in the first place um I've got Sophie from the mirror Sophie Hi Sophie huson from the mirror um should people in Britain ditch their gas boilers and if so how will you help them do that well I'm not going to tell people what to do with their boilers this this is not about bearing down on individuals and um imposing a disproportionate burden on them I don't think that's the way that we take anybody through a transition so this is not about a government that's going to go around the country saying you can do this you can't do that that isn't the way to bring about the transition the best way I think is to ensure that we put in place the difficult decisions to make sure that um renewable energy uh is a reliable source of energy and meet our mission which is to have clean Power by 2030 um and the best um selling point if you like for that for the general public is that their bills will go down and they will go down not just for a short time um but for the long term and that will come as a huge relief I think to families and businesses across the country thank you all very much and now we get the opportunity to talk to you which I'm very much looking forward to thank you [Applause]