Energy UK made its return to Liverpool this week for Labour’s first party conference since returning to power. With a record number of delegates, businesses, and MPs gathering by the docks, one might have expected a more celebratory mood, writes Shauna Dubler, Public Affairs Manager at Energy UK.
Instead, there was a palpable sense that Labour was embracing the heavy responsibility of governing – a stark shift from its days in opposition. While ministers delivered the usual rhetoric of optimism and ambition, their speeches were tempered by calls for patience and realism, urging both party members and businesses to remain mindful of the economic challenges currently facing the country.
In the energy sector, we’ve long argued that energy underpins our economy. However, it wasn’t until the recent energy crisis that it truly grabbed front-page headlines and dominated the party conference fringe guide. Speaking against the backdrop of a typically rainy and windy Liverpool served as a fitting reminder of how vital the UK’s geographic and environmental conditions are to the renewable energy sector.
The energy conversation
At the conference, discussions about energy extended well beyond our typical circles, becoming a focal point for ministers across various departments. Topics ranged from planning and investment to skills, infrastructure, consumer fairness, and even national security. While there were the usual calls for building critical infrastructure and planning reform, there was a refreshing emphasis on heat decarbonisation – an area often overshadowed by the focus on power. Additionally, significant efforts were made to ensure that consumers are at the heart of this transition, highlighted by the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero Ed Miliband’s announcement of new proposals for improving energy efficiency in rented homes.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s closing speech covered a wide array of topics but was especially noteworthy for being the first instance in which a Prime Minister directly referenced pylons in a Leader’s Speech – much to the joy of Energy UK’s Chief Executive Emma Pinchbeck. This moment resonated strongly with energy experts, marking just how far the energy sector has come in recent years to be able to bring critical infrastructure into the mainstream conversation.
On the ground at the conference
The Energy UK team participated in a series of more than 10 panels alongside several ministers, many MPs, and senior representatives from industry, addressing these critical issues. While the subject of energy can seem daunting, especially as we approach the colder winter months, there was a consistent message of positivity, ambition, and determination – not least at our own event.
In collaboration with the Institute for Public Policy Research, we held an event on how the Government can work in partnership to achieve its clean energy mission (pictured below). This featured a conversation between Secretary of State Ed Miliband and Heather Boushey, a member of the Council of Economic Advisers to President Biden and a key figure in bringing about the prominent Inflation Reduction Act. Together they emphasised the vital role of investment in realising the clean energy mission – something the industry is fully behind.
