Progressive economists reject Unite leader’s criticism of Ed Miliband | Ed Miliband
More than 40 progressive economists have written to Unite leader Sharon Graham rejecting her claim that Ed Miliband would destroy jobs if he becomes the next chancellor.
While Andy Burnham is almost certain to become prime minister within weeks, there is a fierce debate within the Labor Party over who should replace Rachel Reeves at the Treasury, with Miliband leading the way.
Graham, like the GMB union, is advocating new licenses for oil and gas extraction in the North Sea. Miliband’s fierce commitment to net zero, he told the Sunday Timesnoose around the neckOn creating employment.
“Ed seems only interested in one side of the equation – driving Britain to net zero, with almost no consideration for jobs, skills and national security,” he said.
As well as wanting to see more oil and gas extraction from Scotland, Unite is disappointed by the closure of oil refineries in the UK and the lack of British jobs in the offshore wind industry.
In an open letter, academics including Kate Pickett, author of The Spirit Level; Geographer Danny Dorling; Daniela Gabor, professor of economics at Soas University of London; and James Meadway of Verdant, a think tank, called on him to retract his remarks.
They wrote: “The climate transition is one of the biggest drivers of industrial job creation in the UK economy. The net zero economy generates over £100bn worth of output and employs over a million workers. These numbers will grow further as the sector expands. Workers driving the green transition need union representation, good wages and advocates in government.”
They added: “There is no alternative to a green transition. The effects of climate change are with us now. Miliband is right to oppose further expansion of North Sea oil and gas.”
Other signatories include Howard Reed, director of Landman Economics; Author and campaigner Ann Pettifor; and Jo Michell, professor of economics at the University of the West of England.
In his speech to London Climate Week on Tuesday, Miliband praised the benefits of investing in green energy for jobs and growth, claiming: “The UK’s clean economy is growing rapidly.”
Burnham is expected to become Labor leader on July 17 unless he faces a challenge from an alternative candidate, which looks unlikely since the leading potential challenger Wes Streeting has thrown his weight behind the former Manchester mayor.
The intervention by left-wing thinkers is part of an effort to strengthen Burnham’s resolve in the face of concerns among some Labor MPs that financial markets could be spooked if Miliband takes over as chancellor.
Other potential candidates for number 11 include Streeting; Yvette Cooper, the foreign secretary who was Treasury secretary in the last Labor government; and former defense secretary John Healey, who resigned over Reeves’ failure to fully fund his defense investment plan.
Burnham has signaled that he wants to oversee a significant change in direction in economic policy. His adviser, Mathew Lawrence, published an article on Monday calling for an ambitious program of renationalisation in the coming years to return control of key public services to the public sector.
Reeves’ Treasury Secretary has issued numerous press releases in recent days as his team insists it is business as usual; these include the nomination of Jonathan Haskel, an academic, as the next head of the Office for Budget Responsibility and new details of the Covid fraud task force.
