Ed Miliband to say UK must stick to net zero targets to deliver jobs and growth

Ed Miliband is to say that the UK must stick to net zero targets to deliver jobs and growth, as speculation surrounds the energy secretary’s role under a new prime minister. He will make the speech as data shows more than £100bn in green investment has been pledged by private sector companies in this parliament. Miliband, who is due to address London Climate Action Week on Tuesday afternoon, is expected to say: “The UK’s clean economy is booming. Today we announce we’ve passed the incredibly significant milestone of over £100bn of private investment announced in clean energy since our government came to office. That means investment, jobs, growth.” The speech comes as Miliband is tipped as a possible chancellor to succeed Rachel Reeves, who may follow Keir Starmer in stepping down. The net zero targets Miliband has championed have been cited as one of the reasons for the government’s unpopularity. Cabinet ministers, some trade unions and the rightwing media have regularly attacked Miliband , and claimed the push for net zero is a drag on the economy. Sharon Graham, Unite general secretary, said Miliband would be a “noose around the neck” of job creation if he became chancellor in a government led by Andy Burnham. But experts told the Guardian that the new investment data, as well as previous findings by the Confederation of British Industry that the UK’s net zero economy has grown faster than the rest of the economy and generates higher paying jobs , suggested the contrary. …