Claire Coutinho: Labour’s dangerous net zero plans leave UK at China’s mercy

The costs involved in meeting the target would “mean … higher taxes for people, hiking up people’s bills, and essentially not being sure that we can keep the lights on”, Ms Coutinho claimed, adding that the plan would mean “send[ing] the money to China”.

Ms Coutinho said she was “working very hard to build British supply chains” but that 2030 was too soon for the country to have the manufacturing capabilities needed to decarbonise the electricity grid without relying heavily on Chinese products.

She added: “In terms of energy, we’ve just seen a period where continental Europe has had to wean itself off Russian oil and gas, we can’t do that to just then be dependent on China for critical minerals.

“So it’s really important that, as we’re thinking through the energy policy of the next couple of decades, we’re looking at all those components of the supply chain to make sure that we are secure and we’re not overly reliant on one part of the world.

“We’ve just seen where you have over-reliance on one part of the world, it affects all of our security … It’s important we are giving people that security, that sense that they’ll be able to pay the bills.”

She added of Labour: “Their 2030 decarbonisation plans are mad, bad and dangerous. I speak to hundreds of people in industry, and investors. Not a single one of those people has asked us for a 2030 date. 

“When I speak to consumers, when I speak to households, not a single person is asking for that date, not even the climate change lobby is asking for that date. They plucked it out of thin air, it’s a complete fantasy.”