Prime minister Rishi Sunak has debuted four new government departments as part of his Cabinet mini-shuffle, including a Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
Sunak pledged to create a new government department devoted to energy security as part of his summer leadership campaign. The department of business, energy and industry strategy will be split into two.
Despite being intially unsuccessful, Sunak’s pledge sees the government recognise ‘the significant impact rising prices have had on households across the country as a result of Putin’s illegal war in Ukraine, and the need to secure more energy from domestic nuclear and renewable sources as we seize the opportunities of net zero.’
Business minister Grant Shapps has been named secretary of state for energy, security and net zero.
He stated his aims in the role will include “securing our long-term energy supply, bringing down bills and thereby helping to halve inflation.”
Other appointments in the cabinet shuffle include:
Former leadership candidate and president of the Board of Trade and current minister for women and equalities Kemi Badenoch has been named Secretary of State for Business and Trade.
Former levelling-up minister Lucy Frazer has been made secretary of state for culture, media, and sport. Greg Hands has been named Tory Party chairman after Nadhim Zahawi was sacked by Sunak following a tax scandal.
Michelle Donelan, former culture secretary and secretary of state for education for two days last summer, was named secretary of state for science, innovation and technology.
The previous energy department was merged with the business department by Theresa May in 2016
Shadow climate secretary Ed Miliband gave a searing assessment of the Cabinet shuffle before it was even formally announced:
So seven years after the disastrous decision to abolish the Department of Energy, the Conservatives now admit they got it wrong, but a rearranging of deckchairs on the sinking Titanic of failed Conservative energy policy will not rescue the country.
— Ed Miliband (@Ed_Miliband) February 7, 2023
Miliband continued, stating that energy bills in the UK are “too high and our system too weak because of years of disastrous decisions”, citing “the ongoing onshore wind ban, blocking of solar, slashing of energy efficiency, disastrous regulation of the retail market and an unlawful net zero plan.”
Former leader of the Green Party Caroline Lucas pointed out that the government’s actions may not be percieved as lining up with their declared intentions:
Great to have new Department for Net Zero. Looking forward to new Sec of State adopting net zero policies like cancelling climate-wrecking Cumbria coal mine, ending new North Sea oil & gas licences, dropping gas giveaway of billions in tax relief for fossil fuel giants – oh wait
— Caroline Lucas (@CarolineLucas) February 7, 2023
More action is still needed, according to some
Greenpeace UK’s director of policy, Dr Doug Parr, said: “It’s government policy and underinvestment that is holding back real action on the climate and energy crises, not the departments or minister in place.
“Unless the new-look Department for Energy is given the freedom and funding to rapidly scale up renewable energy production – both offshore and on – to sure up domestic supply, as well as roll out a nationwide scheme to insulate the tens of millions of energy-wasting homes across the country, what’s the point?”
