What has Dr Alan Whitehead been up to today?
Dr Alan Whitehead is MP for Southampton, Test and a member of the Labour party.
Dr Alan Whitehead has 8658 followers on Twitter.
The CCC’s new climate ‘progress’ report is the most critical yet. It is clear that the government will fail to meet its own climate targets without much more ambitious action - not least on home insulation. We still have time to act, but not much.
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/jun/29/government-policy-failures-are-obstacle-to-uk-net-zero-target-advisers-warn?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other
A few weeks ago I wrote to BEIS on reports that they ignored calls to examine extending the life of Hinkley B.
The Gov are asleep at the wheel - during a national energy crisis. We should be taking every step possible to maximise our #EnergySecurity, anything less is careless.
The government has admitted it failed to ask EDF to keep the Hinkley Point B nuclear power plant open, despite the ongoing energy crisis. The reactor provides enough electricity to power more than 1.7m homes, but will now shut down this August.
https://inews.co.uk/news/politics/government-admits-failing-to-ask-edf-to-keep-nuclear-power-plant-open-to-ease-energy-crisis-1707824?ito=social_itw_theipaper&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1656240266
It's 3 years since the UK enshrined net zero into law.
We know there is vast room for debate on how to get there, but what we also know is that 2050 is the very latest we should get to net zero by. Great to see so many politicians come out in support of #NetZeroDay.
🔊🇬🇧Three years ago the UK enshrined net zero into law - it now more important than ever to act
🌎Today on #NetZeroDay @EnvironmentAPPG members highlight the cross party support for achieving net zero by 2050 or sooner👇
How can we phase out fossil fuels in a way that works for people everywhere? The historic Cochabamba People’s Agreement offers a way forward, argues Max Ajl.
https://newint.org/features/2022/04/04/global-just-transition
I have today written to @GregHands regarding recent media reports that #BEIS ignored calls to examine extending the lifetime of Hinkley B nuclear power station.
We should be taking every step possible to maximise our energy security, anything less is simply careless.
What this letter doesn't include is the prediction that 12 million households could be plunged into #FuelPoverty in October with this price cap rise - a 4x increase from 2020. Never has a case for an emergency budget and a windfall tax on oil & gas producer profits been stronger.
We've now published our letter to the Chancellor @RishiSunak and Secretary of State for @beisgovuk @KwasiKwarteng which sets out the current expected level of the price cap from October.
Read the letter here https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/publications/letter-jonathan-brearley-chancellor-and-secretary-state-business-energy-and-industrial-strategy-default-tariff-cap
📢 @Southampton2025 City of Culture bid will be featured on @BBCTheOneShow this evening at 7pm 📢
Tune in to learn what makes Southampton so special and why we deserve to be the city to win! #CityofCulture2025 #MakeItSO
As if times weren't scary enough already, this will have families and households all over the country terrified about making ends meet. A small reminder that there's still 3 months left before the final decision is made - so it could go even higher than £2,800. Gov must act now.
if the head of Ofgem is right that household energy bills are currently heading for £2,800 in the autumn that marks a circa £1,700 increase since early 2021, this is a financial tsunami heading towards millions of vulnerable households
This will cause enormous worry for families already facing soaring bills.
How many more alarm bells do the Conservatives need before they act?
We need an emergency budget now, with a windfall tax on oil and gas producer profits to lower bills.
https://twitter.com/DanielHewittITV/status/1529060290620530689?s=20&t=SYogtN1yRItnvZ6k09mIAA
NEW: Head of Ofgem says he will be writing to Rishi Sunak today to inform him the price cap is expected to be £2,800 in October, up from £1,971.
Today, it’s Southampton’s turn to be highlighted! Don’t forget you can tune in to @BBCTheOneShow tonight at 7pm to see a special Southampton feature! 📺 #MakeItSO #CityofCulture2025 https://twitter.com/DCMS/status/1529017065264361472
Last but not least: Southampton are in the final shortlisted location for #CityofCulture2025
Share what you love about this vibrant south-coast city!
#Southampton2025 | @southampton2025
Don't forget, you can tune into @BBCTheOneShow tomorrow night at 7pm to see what happened when they visited Southampton!
#CityofCulture2025 #Southampton2025 #MakeItSO #DCMS
So it’s official! Today I got formally elected as Southampton’s new Council Leader!
Myself and the Labour Team are excited, committed and raring to go… 🌹
The Energy Company Obligation (ECO) is the only existing gov programme that encourages efficiency upgrades in homes, and yet 6 weeks after ECO4 was due to start, the legislation has still not been laid in Parliament. Experts warn 23k homes are missing out. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/energy-crisis-thousands-to-miss-efficiency-upgrades-after-unacceptable-whitehall-delays-fftpxg9h8
So this happened!!
Southampton Labour are grateful that local residents have put their trust in us again to lead the city.
We are a eager and ready to start delivering for all our communities.
Huge thank you for everyone’s support. 🙏 https://twitter.com/UKLabour/status/1522429146072236032
Labour GAIN 🌹
Labour gains Southampton council.
Proud to continue my work with the @EnvironmentAPPG, whose work has never been more important.
Huge thanks to @GreenAllianceUK for convening this excellent group.
🚨RE-ELECTED VICE CHAIR🚨
@alanwhiteheadmp has been re-elected as an @EnvironmentAPPG Vice Chair.
Huge thanks to colleagues who contributed to tonight's adjournment debate on Southampton's bid to be city of culture 2025 @pauljholmes @alanwhiteheadmp @cj_dinenage @MariaMillerUK #makeitSO
Wonderful to see our Regional MPs showing support for Southampton’s bid to be #CityofCulture2025 yesterday. Thank you
@carolinenokes @alanwhiteheadmp @pauljholmes @MariaMillerUK @cj_dinenage
#MakeItSO #DCMS you can watch back here (starting at 2hrs39) https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m0016rw5/house-
Today could be a game changer. We're asking all MPs to back the Fan-Led Review by popping in to Room R in Westminster from 2-4pm
CEO @niallcouper & Fair Game ambassador ex-England player @John_Scales will be there
Use this link to ask them to join us👇
https://members.parliament.uk/FindYourMP
So much energy in Southampton today!
Loved being in Swaythling to meet residents and launch the brilliant council election campaign.
An affordable, green, safe city that’s great for families, that people can take pride in…now that’s a positive agenda worth voting for 🗳 🌹
Oh for goodness sake.
What is the possible justification for cutting income tax rate while raising NI rate?
Drives further wedge between taxation of unearned income and earned income. Yet again benefits pensioners and those living off rents at expense of workers
Couldn't have put it better myself... Is this actually it...?
If that's all he's doing on energy - it is limited and won't impact the majority of households who will see a likely £1,300 average increase in year-on-year bills by October.
My head has sunk. I just hope there's a rabbit to come out of the hat.
#SpringStatement2022
The Govt must use the #SpringStatement tomorrow to address the #EnergyCrisis & back Labour's #RetrofitSprint, investing £60bill over 10yrs to...
🏘️Insulate 19mill homes
💰Save families £400/yr
📉Cut national gas imports by 15%
👩🏾🏭Support 100,000+ good green jobs in 2yrs
From how we got here, to where we should go, this thread covers an awful lot of what you need to know about the current energy situation in the UK. Definitely worth a read 👇
UK PM @BorisJohnson will soon set out an energy security strategy. The biggest, quickest action 🇬🇧 can take to wean itself off Russian gas and expensive #FossilFuels is to invest in home #EnergyEfficiency and renewables. AN ENERGY SECURITY STARTS AT HOME TOP 10 FACTS THREAD 🧵
For energy security, to get bills down, and tackle the climate crisis it is time for a green energy sprint.
We need go further and faster on wind, solar, tidal + nuclear power. 🌪☀️🌊
Clean, home grown power.
& a national insulation mission to cut bills+cut gas imports 👷🏽♀️🔧🏡 https://twitter.com/LabourList/status/1501686818764382214
NEW: Ed Miliband to unveil new five-point plan for "secure route to energy security and sovereignty" as Labour calls for "national sprint" to build greener, cleaner, more secure energy system in UK: https://labourlist.org/2022/03/labour-set-to-unveil-five-point-plan-for-energy-security-and-sovereignty/
Honestly, you couldn't make this up. Fossil fuels are not the answer to the fossil fuel crisis. #ClimateEmergency
Downing St has confirmed that Boris Johnson is reviewing Britain's shale gas moratorium, three days after business secretary Kwasi Kwarteng (see below) explained why it wasn't a silver bullet
This week's #IPCCreport put forward its bleakest warning yet, emphasising the urgency of immediate, ambitious action to step-up climate adaptation
I asked @AlokSharma_RDG what concrete progress has been made on adaptation since #COP26
Once again, he couldn't give me an answer.
This is the most devastating warning to humanity so far.
Scientists are painting a vivid picture of the nightmare ahead if we do not act now.
Their message can no longer be ignored: business as usual means catastrophe in a rapidly warming world.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-60525591
Well, no chance the planet has a "good, solid" future with this lot in charge
Greg Hands, UK Energy minister says there's a ‘Good, solid future for [North Sea] oil and gas’.
Does he know, for a 'good, solid future' for our climate and energy consumers - we need to stop all new oil and gas now?!
https://www.energyvoice.com/oilandgas/north-sea/389811/north-sea-uk-licences-greg-hands/
Bin collections in Southampton cancelled due to warnings ahead of storm Eunice. Visit our website for the latest updates : https://www.southampton.gov.uk/news/article/bin-collections-in-southampton-cancelled-due-to-warnings-ahead-of-storm-eunice/ including possible school closures: https://www.southampton.gov.uk/schools-learning/school-closures/
A red warning has been issued for Storm Eunice tomorrow and @ssencommunity are anticipating that there will be power outages. Please see http://news.ssen.co.uk/news/all-articles/2022/february/storm-eunice-ssen-moves-to-red-alert/?fbclid=IwAR3CmsrlIwyhBIRgmRnC2WnKci0UJg1vcik5hDhPXnI2rdm4zf_twygMUVA for more details
An independent Southampton business, which has lost out due to break-ins and covid may close forever if funds can't be raised in the next few days. Can you donate and share?
@alanwhiteheadmp @sarahmvaughan @CllrWindle @darrenpaffey @LabourSatvir @Royston_Smith @carolinenokes https://twitter.com/InCommonSoton/status/1491438643105656837
Independent vegan ethical shop @RiceUpLtd is set to close if funds can't be raised to help it pay the rent. Southampton has pulled together before to save independent businesses - let's do it again.
Support our independent shops! https://www.in-common.co.uk/2022/02/09/you-can-help-save-independent-ethical-shopping-in-southampton/
This is very welcome, but also long overdue - CfD auctions will now be annual.
Not only will this move us closer to net-zero, but it should also lower bills, boost energy security and drive investment in renewables. A niche but vital step forward.
https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-statements/detail/2022-02-09/hcws600
With #WorldCancerDay tomorrow, I want to remind people that @maggiessoton is the place to go locally if you have had a cancer diagnosis or are caring for someone with cancer. You can walk straight in and get the support you need - they are wonderful.
#EveryoneNeedsAMaggies
The council tax offer of £150 may look attractive, but council tax is set to rise by more than £12 a month across the country in the new financial year due to cuts in gov funding to local authorities. Classic government tack, giving with one hand and taking away with the other?
Energy news - what we know so far. I've bashed out a summary. Please share so people understand what's happening...
While majority of the price cap increase is driven by high wholesale gas prices, households will also be paying an extra £68/year to cover costs of supplier failures (network costs in the graph). This is the direct cost of Tory failure & working people are paying the price.
This will have devastating implications for many low & middle-income households, as well as businesses up & down the country. Be in no doubt @RishiSunak, the pressure is on. On a day Shell have reported huge profits, you have a duty to protect people from this gas price crisis 👀
NEWS: The price cap will rise by 54% on 1 April lasting until 1 October. For someone on typical bills that's a rise from £1,277 to £1,971/yr - just under £700.
I will try and find the standing charges and unit rates now.
NEW: Ofgem confirms that the domestic energy price cap will increase by *£693* from April.
That’s an increase of 54%.
Hard to overestimate just how impactful that will be on (i) the family finances of millions who are struggling (ii) politics.
Families are facing a cost of living crisis.
But the Conservatives have more sympathy with oil and gas companies that describe the crisis as a "cash machine".
That is why they are opposing Labour's #windfalltax
They won't stand up to vested interests. We will.
Honesty and decency matter.
After months of denials the Prime Minister is now under criminal investigations for breaking his own lockdown laws.
He needs to do the decent thing and resign.
Great to be out on the #labourdoorstep for our Action Saturday with @alanwhiteheadmp @LabourSatvir and the team in Southampton!
Labour has a plan to tackle the cost of living crisis.
The Tories are the cost of living crisis.
More here 👇🏻
https://action.labour.org.uk/page/96951/petition/1
Data from @beisgovuk shows the Green Homes Grant Local Authority Delivery scheme has already resulted in bill savings of £1,200,000 per year for low-income households, with most savings from solid wall insulation & heat pumps. Proof retrofit is the future.
https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/green-homes-grant-local-authority-delivery-lad-release-january-2022
A life spent working on UK energy policy, explained through the medium of sheep. https://twitter.com/NoContextBrits/status/1485588612741750784
Alan has been a leading figure in the campaign to stop the Aquind scheme, and deserves huge credit for leading the charge with @StephenMorganMP . https://twitter.com/alanwhiteheadmp/status/1484170220138729473
This has been a long time coming and I'm thrilled the government has seen sense and rejected the #Aquind interconnector application (despite all the donations to the Tory party...). This project was inadequate on so many levels & this was the only sensible outcome @StopAquind 👏 https://twitter.com/BBCSimonJack/status/1484165448233111560
Together we have stopped #AQUIND👇🏻
This has been a long time coming and I'm thrilled the government has seen sense and rejected the #Aquind interconnector application (despite all the donations to the Tory party...). This project was inadequate on so many levels & this was the only sensible outcome @StopAquind 👏
Breaking. UK govt turns down Aquind's application to build electricity connector between Normandy and Portsmouth. Aquind backed by Russian ex oil and gas tycoons Viktor Fedotov and Alexander Temerko who have been major donors to Tory party. More to come.
Inflation is now the highest since 1992 - this is the urgent crisis we should be talking about
Instead we have a government too mired in scandal of its own creation to get a grip
Only Labour has a fully costed plan to protect consumers and businesses from energy spikes https://twitter.com/BBCBreakfast/status/1483699460827979780
Shadow Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds MP gives his reaction to the latest inflation figures on #BBCBreakfast
The cost of living rose by 5.4% in the 12 months to December, its fastest pace for 30 years.
https://bbc.in/3qEGv3y
Report after report is emerging highlighting just how devastating the increase in energy bills will be, particularly to the poorest and most vulnerable. What will it take for the government to finally take notice and realise they must act? #Energy
Urgent action is needed to ease the pain of the cost-of-living crisis.
Our new research shows the large impact of the energy price cap rise on the poorest families.
Thread 🧵👇
https://www.jrf.org.uk/press/rising-energy-bills-devastate-poorest-families
.@alanwhiteheadmp opens the @BENetworking #NetZero Conference ... saying that whilst much progress made on decarbonising power, there's still a 'mammoth task' when it comes to heat!
Recognises the essential role hydrogen will play in cutting emissions from the built environment.
This is absolutely huge. If all of these end up being built they will generate enough to cover more than a third of current GB demand. Even half that would have enormous implications for our #energy system. 🍃
Today, we’ve announced the results of ScotWind, the first Scottish offshore wind leasing round in a decade. This is an early but important step towards building the next generation of offshore wind projects. https://bit.ly/3roSWzH
1/3 #ScotWind #NetZero #OffshoreWind