North East Lincolnshire MP accuses Mayor of ‘war on renewables’
The new Reform UK Mayor of Greater Lincolnshire, Dame Andrea Jenkyns, has been accused of declaring “war on renewables” by a North East Lincolnshire MP. She has called the criticism “grandstanding”.
Dame Andrea was elected to the new role on May 2. Throughout the campaign she expressed scepticism of the need for the UK to pursue net zero greenhouse gas emissions. Net zero is a goal the country is committed to try and achieve by 2050 in order to contribute to tackling climate change.
In the latest PMQs, Melanie Onn MP (Labour – Great Grimsby and Cleethorpes) raised Dame Andrea’s net zero stance. “Great Grimsby and Cleethorpes is the renewable energy capital of England,” she said, adding that “more than 12,000 people are employed in a clean energy job in Greater Lincolnshire”.
Ms Onn asserted the jobs “are now under threat from Reform’s new mayor, who has declared war on renewables, putting livelihoods at risk”. She asked Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer what steps he will take to protect jobs by supporting renewable projects’ delivery and supply chain.
Sir Keir labelled those on opposition benches in the House of Commons as “climate defeatists” and “anti-jobs” in his reply. He also called Ms Onn a “true champion for energy security”. “We are focused on securing billions in investment, creating tens of thousands of jobs and taking us off the rollercoaster of international fossil fuels.”
Dame Andrea has taken to social media to respond. She described Ms Onn’s comments as “grandstanding and having a go at my pushing back on the cosy consensus Net Zero policies that have had no scrutiny”. And made reference to Ms Onn’s previous role as deputy chief executive of Renewables UK, criticising the association she has with the renewable industry.
“I believe in moving the dial to ensure we have a balanced economy to ensure we don’t put our eggs in one basket. Where we have future-proofing, we have the skills, we look for inward investment, we look for emerging industries,” she said, so “Lincolnshire can thrive for generations”. Dame Andrea added she was creating a “Plan for Growth” for the county.
Commenting outside of PMQs, Ms Onn emphasised the importance of the renewable energy industry for her constituency. “The green energy industry is a lifeline to so many in Great Grimsby and Cleethorpes and beyond.
“Declaring ‘war’ on this vital industry is reckless, particularly when our area is leading the way in delivering clean British power, reducing bills, and creating skilled, long-term jobs. Great Grimsby and Cleethorpes has worked hard to become a clean energy leader – we need to protect and champion that work.”