Labour Post Brexit Green Transformation



In my previous blog I suggested that Labour should consider conditionally supporting May’s Withdrawal  Deal, in return for a place in the negotiating team for the ongoing discussion with the EU about a long term trading arrangement and  an emergency spending programme to address climate change and collapsing public services. 

Whilst May would be unlikely to agree to such conditions the offer would demonstrate Labour’s constructive attitude and would help it to change the terms of the debate. In any event Labour should be making plans regarding how best to use the Transition Period, set to last 20 months with the possibility of an extension. I would suggest the following: 

That Labour reaffirms its commitment to undertaking a Green Transformation when elected to government and begins preparation for its implementation. Such preparation, which would involve the allocation of substantial financial resources, would involve drawing up a constituency by constituency Green Transformation plan, led by local communities but with appropriate professional support. Local plans for renewable energy, public transport and home and building insulation would be worked out and properly costed, with the promise of immediate funding by an elected Labour or Labour led government. It would be a programme which could start to be implemented by the end of 2020, with a view to transforming the economy over a 10 year period, on the understanding that the UK needs to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030 or soon after. The co-ordinated local programmes would target local populations when offering future employment opportunities, recruitment and training beginning as soon as a Labour or Labour led government was elected.

Although it would be important to demonstrate that all communities/constituencies would benefit from the Green Transformation proposals the likely concentration of renewable energy employment opportunities in coastal communities servicing off shore wind generation would be an additional bonus, given the high levels of deprivation in many such communities.

Labour would make it clear  that it would expect that it had the right to undertake such a state led initiative regardless of its ongoing relationship with the EU. Any agreement to remain in a Customs Union or a Single Market would not prevent its implementation.

 It would of course be obvious that Labour would not be expecting to save the UK from the consequences of global warming in isolation from the rest of Europe, or indeed from the rest of the world. On the contrary Labour would urge the EU to adopt a similar programme and would, in particular, urge electors across Europe to demand that it do so. It would be part of a broader argument that ‘ Another Europe is Possible ‘.

How much would Labour have to spend on kick starting preparation for the above before coming to office ? The employment of 2 professionals per 10 constituencies ( one concentrating on community engagement perhaps and another providing technical expertise ) would require around 140 people (allowing for 10 employed on a peripatetic basis). If such professionals were paid a reasonable wage (30k) then, allowing for employer National Insurance contributions, the cost would be around £5 million per year, £10million over a two year period. A substantial cost but perhaps not beyond the means of a political party with a membership of 600,000 , with initial funding being provided by trade union affiliates whose members and future members would benefit from decent employment opportunities. The success of the initiative could not rely on the professionals of course and would be dependent on the mobilisation of the party’s substantial activist base. 


The above  is obviously ‘ work in progress’ and is offered in the hope of generating debate.




Link to Labour’s published Green Transformation document here 




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