Miliband has ‘nothing but praise’ for COP26 President Alok Sharma

Speaking to Sky News’ “Trevor Phillips on Sunday” this morning, Shadow Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Ed Miliband insisted that he has “nothing but praise” for COP26 President Alok Sharma, and the work he did in Glasgow.

However, the Labour MP said that Sharma’s good work and intentions were undermined by nations who refused to sign up to key pledges and the Government’s own mixed messaging on climate policy. 

Miliband pointed to the Cambo oil field as an example of “total hypocrisy” from the government as the UK asked others to “phase down” on fossil fuels. “We cannot have the Cambo oil field going ahead because it’s the equivalent of 18 coal-fired power stations running for a year. We should not be having a new coal mine in Cumbria. Frankly, it looks like total hypocrisy when we are trying to persuade other countries to act”, Miliband told Phillips. 

Miliband also said that “Cutting overseas aid was the single biggest mistake this government made in the run-up to COP, because it undermined our authority”. He blames the decision on Johnson and the rest of the government, sparing Sharma.