Union boss blasts Labour’s Net Zero agenda for driving his members towards Reform UK as he slams Ed Miliband’s stance on North Sea oil as ‘economic madness’

A union boss has criticized Labour’s Net Zero agenda for turning his members towards Reform UK.

GMB general secretary Gary Smith said the Government’s opposition to North Sea oil and gas was ‘economic madness’ and ‘a disaster for many working people’.

He added that whoever leads Labor at a time when Andy Burnham is set to challenge Keir Starmer for the party leadership “had better start listening”.

A recent poll showed union members are now as likely to support Reform as Labor.

While Labor has suffered a 20-point decline since 2024, the two parties remain tied with 28 per cent support among union members, JL Partners’ research shows.

Speaking to Times Radio on Sunday, Mr Smith argued that Reform was ‘no friend of unionists and GMB people’.

But he said he understood why its members had decided to leave Labor, despite his union being affiliated with the party.

‘The reality is that economic insecurity, people’s legitimate anger and frustration with the economy and living standards are driving people towards populist parties,’ he said.

Mr Smith added: ‘The Labor government also has a responsibility here.

‘They need to do more, they need to be less shy, they need to be braver in what they do.

‘They need to be more determined than ever to raise living standards and bring jobs and industry back to this country.

‘They will have to reflect on current energy policy, which is one of the issues that drove our members to Reform.

‘Because it closes factories, hits investments and hits employment. Whether people in the Labor Party like to hear it or not, it’s true.

‘The closure of North Sea oil and gas and the impact of energy policy on manufacturing in this country is a disaster for many working people.

‘It leads people to the arguments put forward by the Reformation.’

Mr Smith has also frequently criticized Energy Secretary Ed Miliband’s blockade of new oil and gas exploration in the North Sea after the Iran war sent energy prices soaring.

He rejected the Government’s claim that lifting the ban on new production in the North Sea would not reduce domestic energy bills because oil prices are set internationally.

“This is complete nonsense,” Mr. Smith said. ‘It is economic madness to lay off thousands of workers currently working in the North Sea.’

He continued: ‘How could this mean leaving the country increasingly dependent on energy imports?

‘And this is not a policy approach taken by Norway or any other country in the world.

‘We want to see a shift in energy; We want to see low-carbon energy built into our future. Of course we do.

‘But this needs to be done in a balanced way. And there’s no point in shutting down a vital resource like North Sea oil and gas, which is good for the economy, good for jobs.

‘It is time for Labor to recognize its influence on politics, employment and investment in this country.’

Senior Tory MP Andrew Bowie, shadow Scotland secretary, said: ‘Even Gary Smith of the GMB union has admitted Labour’s energy policies have failed in Britain.

‘Labour is killing investment, costing jobs and making us more dependent on energy.

‘North Sea oil and gas are vital to our energy security in the North East. Britain should support this industry rather than plunging it into a controlled decline.’