Ed Miliband slammed for 'eco-hypocrisy' after observers spot one thing about £1.6m home
The Energy Secretary was accused of failing to practice what he preaches
Ed Miliband was slammed for “eco-hypocrisy” after eagle-eyed observers noticed he has no solar panels at his £1.6 million London home. The Energy Secretary is leading the Government’s drive to introduce “green” power, such as wind farms and solar panels, across the country, replacing fossil fuels like oil and gas.
But his own semi-detached property lacks solar panels, it is reported. Conservative Shadow Energy Secretary Claire Coutinho said: “Is there no end to his eco-hypocrisy?” And Reform MP Richard Tice said:“Ed Miliband is the king of hypocrisy, no solar panels and no heat pump despite imposing this madness on us.”
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A Department of Energy Security and Net Zero (DENSZ) spokesperson told the Mail: “We are supporting consumers to make their own choices – and we are helping make that possible through our £15bn Warm Homes Plan with grants and loans, ensuring everyone can access the benefits and savings that clean homegrown power can bring.”
Mr Miliband does have a heat pump at the property.
The Energy Secretary insisted the UK must “go faster” in switching to renewable energy in a speech last week.
He said: “Every solar panel we put up, every wind turbine we build, every heat pump we install, every EV [electric vehicle] on the road makes our country more secure.”
And he said the Government wanted to ensure new homes had solar panels “as standard”.
Mr Miliband said: “No matter what some people would have us believe, solar panels, heat pumps and EVs are not ‘woke’. They are common sense.
“Opponents of clean energy want to stand in the way of what the British public want, the difference is we want to support them in this endeavour.
“And we are also determined, and this is important, to ensure everyone not just the richest in society can see the benefits.
“That is why earlier this year we introduced rules to ensure new homes are built with solar and clean heating as standard, the so-called Future Homes Standard – incredibly important and people have been waiting a long time for this - alongside the biggest public investment in home electrification in history through our £15 billion Warm Homes Plan.”
