Jacob Rees Mogg speech – Friends of the Earth reaction

Reacting to Jacob Rees-Mogg’s speech at the Conservative party conference today, Dave Timms, head of political affairs at Friends of the Earth, said:

“If the business secretary is so keen on intelligent net zero, why didn’t he mention insulation and energy efficiency?

“Jacob Rees-Mogg fell flat on one of the most basic lessons of energy policy – the cheapest energy of all is the energy we don’t use.

“A nationwide, street by street insulation programme would reduce energy bills now and in the future, boost the economy with green jobs and cut planet-warming emissions from our homes.”

Earlier in the day Jacob Rees-Mogg’s told a fringe event that it was only “the socialists” and Green Party MP Caroline Lucas who opposed fracking. Commenting, Frends of the Earth energy campaigner, Jamie Peters, said:

“It’s astonishing just how out of touch Jacob Rees-Mogg is on fracking.

“Communities across the country overwhelmingly oppose fracking because it causes earthquakes, industrialises the countryside and contributes to the growing climate emergency, while doing almost nothing to reduce soaring energy bills.

“Any attempt to bypass local democracy and force fracking on local people will simply make it even more unpopular, including in Conservative constituencies.

“Fossil fuels are outdated, dirty and costly. Ministers should focus on real solutions to the energy challenges we face by prioritising insulation and home-grown renewables – which are also cheap, clean and supported by the public.”