Fahnbulleh puts energy bills first, calls 2030 clean power goal a stretch

Fahnbulleh told BBC Panorama that cutting household energy costs sits above everything else in her in-tray. Asked what her main task was, she said: "With the cost of living biting, affordability is my overriding objective, without a doubt." The interview was recorded last week and aired on Monday night.

She pitched Labour's clean power drive as "one of our routes to delivering affordability," arguing it decouples Britain from global fossil fuel markets. "Ultimately if we have homegrown renewables, nuclear, that's the way in which we will drive bills in the long term," she said.

But she conceded the political consensus on climate action is "under pressure" — and that energy bills are part of why. "People want to blame net zero for that. Now, I don't believe that's the case," she said, adding that public consent depends on showing the transition "is good for people's pockets."

The backdrop is rough. UK households pay one of the highest electricity rates in Europe, inflated by subsidies and by gas prices pushed up by international conflicts. Labour has taken heat on climate since taking power, with Reform UK climbing in the polls and the Conservatives under Kemi Badenoch abandoning their own net zero by 2050 pledge. Both opposition parties have targeted renewable subsidy schemes, blaming them for consumer costs.

Fahnbulleh insisted cutting carbon emissions "absolutely is a priority," pointing to this summer's droughts, and said the plan for 95% of Britain's electricity to come from clean sources by 2030 is a "stretch." Green campaigners have been dismayed by the government diverting energy department funding toward defence targets, including cash earmarked for energy efficiency. Ministers approved drilling at the Jackdaw gas field last month; a decision on production at Rosebank, the UK's largest known untapped oil field off Shetland, is still pending.

Andy Burnham, hosting the UK's first summit on wildfires, said the summer just past is "likely to be a more regular situation going forward" because of climate change — the Met Office says warming made this year's heatwaves 130 times more likely. He has also vowed to lead a "cost of living government." It was reported Monday that ministers are weighing a weaker electric vehicle mandate, which would loosen the requirement for carmakers to phase out petrol and diesel production by 2035 — an awkward look as they head to Turkey for COP31.