Keir Starmer has used an appearance at the World Economic Forum in Davos to call for a “clean power alliance” to speed up climate action.
The leader of Britain’s opposition Labour Party said the “single biggest challenge” facing the world in the fight against global warming is the fact that climate change denial has given way to a culture of delay in climate action.
He goaded UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak for failing to show up to the gathering at the Swiss ski resort.
During a panel discussion, it was put to Mr Starmer that the polls suggest he has a high chance of becoming Britain’s next prime minister.
He took the opportunity to push his green agenda which he would take forward if he enters Downing Street.
He touched on Labour’s “ambitious” plan for a new, publicly owned energy company dubbed Great British Energy, which was unveiled at last year’s party conference.
He said his first visit to the summit at Davos had given him the opportunity to speak to CEOs of business and investors “who would partner with us if we were in government”.
“One of the things that I am proposing is a clean power alliance where countries who are in the advance when it comes to net zero, would share information, co-operate and share investment with a view to driving the global prices down.”
He said the aim of such an initiative would be to drive down prices of energy “then see the common benefit whether it’s in the UK or across the globe”.
He has pledged to make the UK a clean energy superpower by 2030 and create a publicly-owned energy company within Labour’s first year in office.
He said that under a Labour government, there would be no new investment in oil and gas.
“What we’ve said about oil and gas is there does need to be a transition.
“Obviously, it will play its part during that transition, but not new investment, not new fields up in the North Sea, because we need to go towards net-zero, we need to ensure that renewable energy is where we go next.”
Davos in pictures
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Lawrence Summers, president emeritus and professor at Harvard University, speaks during a panel session on day three of the World Economic Forum's Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland. Bloomberg -
Netherlands Prime Minister Mark Rutte and Tanzanian President Samia Hassan during a panel discussion in Davos. AP -
EU Parliament President Roberta Metsola speaks at the forum. AP -
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, left, speaks to CNN journalist Fareed Zakaria at the Congress Centre in Davos. AFP -
Iranian-American journalist and women's rights activist Masih Alinejad takes part in an interview with a TV news channel in Davos. AFP -
Mr Mitsotakis is seen on a TV camera viewfinder at the Congress Centre in Davos. AFP -
Faisal Alibrahim, Saudi Arabia's Economy and Planning Minister, speaks during a panel session in Davos. Bloomberg -
Climate activist Greta Thunberg addresses journalists in Davos. Reuters -
Mary Erdoes, chief executive of JP Morgan Chase's asset wealth management arm, listens during a panel session in Davos. Bloomberg -
Officials take part in the World Economic Forum's Busting Business Barriers session. Photo: World Economic Forum -
Dr Thani Al Zeyoudi, the UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade, is among the senior officials in Davos. Photo: WEF -
Former US vice president Al Gore, who is also a member of board of trustees of the forum, at a session titled Leading the Charge through Earth's New Normal. Photo: WEF -
Famed cellist Yo-Yo Ma performs at the event. Photo: WEF -
Deemah Al Yahya, secretary general of the Digital Co-operation Organisation in Saudi Arabia, at the forum's Turning Technologies into the Markets of Tomorrow session. Photo: WEF -
US climate change envoy John Kerry at the Keeping the Pace on Climate session. Photo: WEF -
Shoes worn by Rodrigo Oliveira, founder of Brazilian group Green Mining, emphasise support for environmental initiatives. Photo: WEF -
Mina Al-Oraibi, Editor in Chief of The National, moderates a session on the Middle East that featured Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Saudi Arabia's Minister of Foreign Affairs. Photo: WEF -
Officials and delegates take part in the Middle East: Meeting Point or Battleground? session. Photo: WEF -
Polish President Andrzej Duda speaks at the Restoring Security and Peace session. Photo: WEF -
Mr Duda, Nato chief Jens Stoltenberg, Canada's Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland, Yuliia Svyrydenko, first deputy prime minister in Ukraine, and US Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines attend a session hosted by broadcaster Fareed Zakaria. Photo: WEF -
Olena Zelenska, Ukraine's first lady, watches as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addresses the forum. Photo: WEF -
Mohamad Al Ississ, Jordan's Minister of Finance, takes part in the session titled The Middle East: Meeting Point or Battleground? Photo: WEF -
Mr Zelenskyy gives a video address to the forum in Davos. AFP -
Former US secretary of state Henry Kissinger appears on screen during the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum, in Davos. AP -
US governors Brian Kemp and JB Pritzker, senators Chris Coons, Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema and representatives Maria Salazar and Mikie Sherrill take part in a panel discussion at Davos. AP -
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan attends a session in Davos. AFP -
Chinese Vice Premier Liu He on the opening day of the forum. Bloomberg -
Fifa president Gianni Infantino, left, and Patrice Motsepe, billionaire founder of African Rainbow Minerals, arrive at the forum's venue in Davos. EPA -
Finland's Prime Minister Sanna Marin, right, is interviewed by Fareed Zakaria in Davos. AP -
Delegates visit the refreshments area between sessions in Davos. Bloomberg -
Singer Angelique Kidjo performs in Davos. EPA -
From left, WEF founder Klaus Schwab, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Ukrainian first lady Olena Zelenska and Swiss President Alain Berset pose together during the 53rd annual meeting of the forum in Davos. EPA -
Ms Zelenska hit out at Russia and said 'we cannot allow a new Chernobyl to happen'. AFP -
Mr Berset addresses delegates in Davos. EPA -
Ms von der Leyen said the 27-nation bloc would become much more forceful in countering unfair trading practices. Reuters -
Ferdinand Marcos, President of the Philippines, arrives to attend a session in Davos. AP -
Former US vice president Al Gore is expected to discuss decarbonisation, as well as efforts to build clean energy infrastructure and ensure equitable growth. EPA -
From second left, WEF president Borge Brende, Carbon Direct vice chairwoman Nili Gilbert and US climate envoy John Kerry with other delegates in Davos. EPA -
Credit Suisse chairman Axel Lehmann speaks during the 53rd WEF Annual Meeting. EPA -
DP World chief executive Sultan bin Sulayem in Davos. Bloomberg -
UBS chief executive Ralph Hamers speaks during a television interview on the opening day of the forum. Bloomberg -
From left, Hong Kong Exchanges & Clearing Ltd chairwoman Laura Cha, Banco de Portugal Governor Mario Centeno, Bloomberg TV anchor Francine Lacqua, Credit Suisse chairman Axel Lehmann and S&P Global president and chief executive Douglas Peterson during a panel session on the opening day of the forum. Bloomberg -
Mr Kerry delivers a speech at the Congress Centre in Davos. AFP -
Musicians take part in a concert during the official opening of the forum. Photo: WEF -
Jordanian vocalist Farah Siraj, centre, and Egyptian-Australian multi-instrumentalist Joseph Tawadros, left, perform during the I Sea You concert. Photo: WEF -
Tawadros is one of the world's leading oud performers and composers. Photo: WEF -
WEF managing director Alois Zwinggi speaks during a session called 'In Harmony with Nature'. Photo: WEF -
Gail Whiteman, left, a professor of sustainability at the University of Exeter Business School, speaks during the 'In Harmony with Nature' panel discussion. Photo: WEF -
Mr Schwab delivers a speech during the 'Crystal Award' ceremony in Davos. AFP -
Actor Idris Elba, right, and his wife Sabrina Dhowre Elba, left, smile on the podium during the Crystal Award ceremony. AP -
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko attends the Crystal Award ceremony. EPA -
Singer Renee Fleming, right, receives a Crystal Award from Hilde Schwab, wife of WEF founder Klaus Schwab. AP -
Delegates at the welcome reception before the official start of the forum. Bloomberg -
Food for attendees at the welcome reception. Bloomberg -
A kiosk serving hot chocolate from the UAE at the forum. Bloomberg -
The Infosys pavilion at the forum. Bloomberg -
Ukraine's pavilion in Davos. Reuters -
Swiss police officers on patrol in Davos. Reuters -
From left, German Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck with Swiss ministers Guy Parmelin and Albert Roesti before the start of a bilateral meeting in Davos. EPA -
A delegate passes a digital display in Davos. Bloomberg
Mr Starmer said his immediate focus is on the cost-of-living crisis. The Conservative government has offered households reductions in their energy bills, funded by a windfall tax on oil and gas companies in the North Sea.
The approach is a mere “sticking plaster” for the problem, Mr Starmer said, as he promoted his vision for a green alliance.
If Labour won the next election, he said no new drilling projects would be unveiled in the North Sea, he said.
“What we need is a strategy for renewables that binds together the challenge of high bills, energy security so that we're not so exposed, globally to Putin or whatever, the next generation of jobs that will come as we rush towards renewables and our obligations in relation to the climate crisis,” he said.
“That requires all countries including my own to show global leadership in this to bring countries together.”
The Labour leader used his platform to criticise Mr Sunak's decision to skip the event.
“I think our Prime Minister should have showed up at Davos,” he told the audience.
He said he and Labour's Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves were in attendance “as a statement of intent that should there be a change of government — and I hope there will be — the UK will play its part on the global stage in a way I think it probably hasn't in recent years”.
Downing Street said Mr Sunak “continues to focus on delivering for the British people” as he made a series of visits across the north of England to highlight his £2.1 billion levelling-up spending.
A No 10 spokesman said: “I’d also point to the fact we’ve been actively represented in Davos by the Business Secretary and the Trade Secretary who were there to build relationships with other countries around the world while making sure the UK’s voice is heard.”
He pointed towards the Cop27 climate summit and G20 conference among other events to argue “we are active on the international stage and we will continue to be”.
