Jan 22, 2026 02:15 AM
Ed Miliband admits we'll buy slave products for his solar panel splurge - despite saying UK must 'diversify' supply chains away from China
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article...lurge.html
INTRO: The Energy Secretary has refused to rule out buying solar panels made with slave labour for his new warm homes roll out – despite saying the UK must 'diversify' its supply chains away from China. The Government's Warm Homes Plan, announced on Tuesday, will see millions of families able to access solar panels, batteries, heat pumps and insulation which could reduce the amount they pay for energy.
Under the plans, backed with £15billion of taxpayer cash, homeowners can apply for low and zero-interest loans to install solar panels on their homes in what the Government has dubbed a 'rooftop revolution'. But concerns have been raised about fitting five million British homes with China-sourced solar panels – which have been linked with slave labour abuses against Uyghur Muslims in China's Xinjiang province.
In April, the Government was forced to amend legislation requiring GB Energy, Britain's state-owned energy company, to ensure slavery and human trafficking is not taking place within its supply chain.
But Ed Miliband on Wednesday refused to impose the same ban on solar panels purchased for its Warm Homes Plan – which could see five million homes fit with the technology – under questioning in the Commons Chamber.
When asked to confirm that 'not a single aspect' of the Warm Homes Plan would rely on slave labour supply chains, the Energy Secretary replied the Government has already 'raised standards' in GB Energy – and blamed the Tories for the 'system' Labour had inherited.
This comes despite Mr Miliband this morning saying the Government is working on 'diversifying' supply chains away from China, which produces 80 per cent of the world's solar panels... (MORE - details)
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article...lurge.html
INTRO: The Energy Secretary has refused to rule out buying solar panels made with slave labour for his new warm homes roll out – despite saying the UK must 'diversify' its supply chains away from China. The Government's Warm Homes Plan, announced on Tuesday, will see millions of families able to access solar panels, batteries, heat pumps and insulation which could reduce the amount they pay for energy.
Under the plans, backed with £15billion of taxpayer cash, homeowners can apply for low and zero-interest loans to install solar panels on their homes in what the Government has dubbed a 'rooftop revolution'. But concerns have been raised about fitting five million British homes with China-sourced solar panels – which have been linked with slave labour abuses against Uyghur Muslims in China's Xinjiang province.
In April, the Government was forced to amend legislation requiring GB Energy, Britain's state-owned energy company, to ensure slavery and human trafficking is not taking place within its supply chain.
But Ed Miliband on Wednesday refused to impose the same ban on solar panels purchased for its Warm Homes Plan – which could see five million homes fit with the technology – under questioning in the Commons Chamber.
When asked to confirm that 'not a single aspect' of the Warm Homes Plan would rely on slave labour supply chains, the Energy Secretary replied the Government has already 'raised standards' in GB Energy – and blamed the Tories for the 'system' Labour had inherited.
This comes despite Mr Miliband this morning saying the Government is working on 'diversifying' supply chains away from China, which produces 80 per cent of the world's solar panels... (MORE - details)