Sir John Redwood (Wokingham) (Con):
When will the Government do something about the very high energy prices in this country, which have been made high by regulations and taxes? Does my right hon. Friend not accept that any kind of steelmaking will be extremely difficult if we have uncompetitive energy, and is it not wrong to import such materials, because it will mean even more carbon dioxide emissions, as well as destroying jobs here?
David T. C. Davies (Secretary of State for Wales):
We have looked carefully at the losses that Tata is making, which have come about partly because of the age of the infrastructure. In fact, Tata has had to close down the furnaces at the Morfa coke ovens within the last few weeks. The UK Government are fully cognisant of the cost of energy at the moment, which is why Tata has already benefited from many of the schemes that we have introduced over the past few years, will begin to benefit from the British industry supercharger scheme shortly, and will benefit from the carbon border adjustment mechanism at the start of 2027.
May 5, 2024
So sad. A Conservative MP shouting angrily about the need to stop trade. Whatever would Mrs Thatcher have said?
May 5, 2024
That’s a none answer if ever there was one.
Carbon border adjustment scheme, another hair brained layer of interference.
Without the means to make primary steel we are becoming a third world country, then again perhaps that’s the idea.
.
May 5, 2024
Ian,
Totally agree.. PM Sunak said that we were on a war footing but, how can we be on a war footing when we can’t make our own steel and can’t produce our own energy in any great quantity?
May 5, 2024
I believe the plan is to buy tanks, ships & planes from aboard
May 5, 2024
@glen cullen – all at additional costs, more dependency on those that get to manipulate the situation. Still the Conservative Government and Sunak have at least exported UK’s wealth, and its ability to survive. As the PM has said in the last few days he has a plan, now exposed for all to see.
May 5, 2024
Russia has plenty! Iâm sure they would give us a good deal. đđ€Ł or maybe China? The US MIC is refusing to sign contracts!
May 5, 2024
Sunak’s regime is on a war footing – against Britons and traditional morals/ethics/principles.
May 5, 2024
Spot on Mickey
May 6, 2024
Exactly so! Sadly.
May 5, 2024
Yet another record. 40gw of windmills generating 0.43gw
I see the Germans have just struck a deal to keep 5 coal fired plants available for 5 mote years. A bit different from you dick heads dynamiting them whilst clapping.
We’re Importing 25% of our electricity today. More skilled , high paid jobs being subsidised abroad.
May 5, 2024
Subtract from that 0.43GW (1% of capacity) the energy wasted by having to run the gas plants less efficiently for back up and the extra energy lost in the longer transmission lines probably gives you a negative output in reality!
Also note that the transmission lines for wind power have to cope with the full capacity but usually carry less than 20% of this. Then you have to connect up many individual generators in remote locations or at sea. Rather than one nuclear, coal or gas plant. So the connections for wind cost at least 20 times more (and waste about 20 times for fossil fuel energy to construct and maintain them.
May 5, 2024
+1
May 5, 2024
With the government having promised half a billion pounds to Tata Steel to make 2,800 operatives at Port Talbot redundant, Hindu Business Line reports that “Tata Steel is scaling up its steel-making capacity in the country, (India). The phased commissioning of the 5 million ton per annum capacity expansion at Kalinganagar is underway, while the second phase will go on stream next fiscal.”
GMK Center, a Ukrainian based think-tank and consulting company with a focus on industrial sectors, such as iron and steel, oil and gas, fertilizers, cement, etc, reports that Indiaâs leading steel companies, including JSW Steel and Tata Steel, plan to invest heavily in increasing steel capacity by at least 22 million tons per year in the 2024/2025 fiscal year.
Between April 2023 and January 2024, steel consumption in India increased by 14.5% â to 112.5 million tons, a six-year high. In 2023, India increased steel production by 11.8% y/y â to 140.2 million tons. It is ranked second in the top ten steel producing countries by World Steel.”
This of course requires coal production to increase also and India’s Economic Times Energy World site has the headline, “India to ramp up coal stock to 150 million tonne by FY24 to meet growing power needs”.
“The minister’s statement is backed by the recent achievement in coal production, with India surpassing 900 million tonne as of March 6, 2024, thus setting a new record and edging closer to the ambitious target of 1 billion tonne by the end of this fiscal year. (The Minister) highlighted the availability of ample coal stock, with approximately 85 million tonne with coal companies and 43.28 million tonne at domestic coal-based thermal power plants as of March 5, 2024. This strategic reserve is poised to ensure uninterrupted power supply across the nation, meeting the escalating electricity demand.”
We are seriously being taken for a ride with the Net Zero farrago.
May 5, 2024
Carbon boarder adjustment scheme is just an import tax that we will pay as customers. Net Stupid just keeps on costing us for nothing.
I just can’t get my head around carbon capture either. It’s totally nuts by the Uni Party. Just give them to China with all our manufacturing and stolen technology via their students. I suppose the Uni Party will catch up once we get around electing Reform. Net Zero invented by the Chinese who are laughing at the West whilst they take all the wealth and the means to earn it.
May 7, 2024
No itâs subsidies for windmills that have made us uncompetitive. Take a look at the graph of European electricity prices and note windmill infested Germany and Denmark are double the rest. UK creeping up. Why do I have to draw peopleâs attention to the simple climate facts that are all over the internet. Like the IPCC saying thereâs no climate emergency and no trend in extreme events. I asked an alarmist today what caused climate change and she didnât know!!! And another how fast is the globe warming! Not a clue. Makes me sick.
May 5, 2024
Dear Lemming, I read it as a complaint about the impediment to trade of Government intervention artificially raising the cost of energy.âThat’s the obvious objective reading.
May 5, 2024
Mrs thatcher would not have allowed a position to arise where, due to govt regulation, U.K. energy costs are materially higher than (and in the case of the US a mulitple of) those of competing countries.
May 5, 2024
Indeed cheap reliable energy is essential to compete in so many industries. In the USA electricity and gas is often less than 30% of the UK costs.
May 5, 2024
âUK Government are fully cognisant of the cost of energy at the momentâ says the minister. Well are they cognisant with the causes? Expensive energy is mainly caused by this government and their mad, vastly expensive net zero religion and their war on tree, plant and crop food. CO2 the gas of life.
I read that the Welsh parliament are debating a law to make it illegal for politicians to lie and they could then be banned from parliament. What would they do all day lying for vote this is their main trade? Who would decided what was a lie other politicians or politically motivated lawyers? What might go wrong with this lunacy?
Sunak had better watch out with his âwe have cut taxesâ, âWe are stopping the boatsâ, âI assure the house the vaccines are unequivocally safeâ, we are repaying the debt, reducing NHS waiting lists, growing the economyâŠ
May 5, 2024
Politicians and Civil Servants always seem to find a way to make a bad situation worse.
May 5, 2024
Agree with all that LL but they seem to prefer that we descend to third world status before doing any of those things.
Cognisant is not an apt word to use to describe anything that emanates from from the HoC.
May 5, 2024
The Tories must change course, or be wiped out
Itâs time to wake up. These results will look like a tremor next to the earthquake due on general election night
SUELLA BRAVERMAN in the Telegraph today.
Indeed and by about 180 degree on every issue but A. it is too late and B. Most Conservative MP support these mad socialist, net zero, big state, tax to death, open door to immigration (legal and illegal) policies not just Sunak.
Also âIrelandâs blind hatred of Brexit has destroyed its borders. Starmer may do the same to ours
Dublin is desperate for a returns agreement to send migrants back to Britain. Labour might go one furtherâ
DANIEL HANNAN
Change âmayâ & âmightâ to âwill almost certainlyâ.
May 5, 2024
The Tories have already destroyed our borders. So nothing worse in store.
May 5, 2024
Whatever lies are!
Who decides ( errrm ) ok thenâŠwhich people might decide?
The Ministry of Truth?
We donât need steel anymore!
The idea is to attain 3rd world status and then for the highly diverse ( many minoritied) population to fight it out.
Job done! Fewer to eat, fewer to breathe, fewer to house, just FEWER!
Look at Ukraine.
May 5, 2024
Adding a law to stop lying is daft. It would be like having a law stating âMPs must not melt bicycle frames and eat themâ. Truth is everyoneâs most faithful friend. The law already protects us all: Unless someone does wrong; but then the truth reveals what is right.
May 5, 2024
+++
How about a law stating that all MPs MUST do that?
With much chilli sauce.
Except JR of course
May 5, 2024
LL – Stopping boats – Noticed today the UKG’s (MoD) official figures are now reconfigured on its website and clearly now showing how many migrants have been “prevented” & how many “events” prevented in addition to migrant arrivals & number of arrived boats. I guess this is to show better what has been achieved on the French side bearing in mind so much negativity to be found on line & comment boards as to what the French authorities are perceived to be doing exactly, so, more transparency it seems.
Last 7 days 28 Apr to 04 May incl: 1366 in 27 boats arrived.
Last 7 days 28 Apr to 04 May incl: 759 prevented & 27 events prevented
( Previous 7 days – 21 Apr to 27 Apr incl: 902 arrivals in 17 boats )
May 5, 2024
LL : Lies :
And what about Mr. Sunakâs and his partyâs support of Net Zero where we were told on P19 of the Net Zero Strategy that we will have electricity available âat the flick of a switch from abundant, cheap British renewablesâŠ.â?
The Government/DESNZ have just issued a consultation document seeking views for their intended plan for the remote control of heat pumps and evs needed to enable DSR (Demand Side Response) to operate in order to prevent the collapse of the grid though lack of energy.
May 5, 2024
Indeed energy demand from a building with heat pump heating and EVs might easily be 20 times that of a building with petrol cars and gas or oil heating and cooking. So the grid and generating capacity will have to be increased hugely. Plus most of the demand will be for a few cold winter days so this very expensive capacity largely wasted for most of the year. An absurd policy.
Dominic Lawson today âThe electric car crash will rival the dotcom bubble – the problem for ministers is that most customers just wonât buy EVsâ
Why would they? EVs are far more expensive and less practical than you old petrol or diesel car that you will trade in for circa 20% of the new EV. Plus they do not last long and actually cause more CO2 not less – not that that matters!
Heseltine on R4 today about 1.30. Championing ever more layers of government. He suggests that Sunak should point out to voter how many ÂŁbillions he spent on Covid to try to save lives and say he does not regret it. Then blame his economic mess and his vast tax levels on that.
The problem for Sunak is that the they got Covid wrong in almost every way. The lockdowns and vaccines and all this vast expenditure did not save lives. In fact it did significant net harm as is now all too clear. He can keep saying âunequivocally safeâ as much as he likes but it is total B.S. Rather like net zero – zero (indeed actually negative) benefits and vast pointless expenditure.
May 5, 2024
But only a few of the elites have that ‘switch’ to flict
May 5, 2024
I watched Question Time this week. Fiona Bruce with an hour of debate from Northstowe, near Cambridge. On the panel: Bim Afolami MP, Peter Kyle MP, Kirsty Blackman MP, Professor Joseph Stiglitz and Anita Boateng.
The first question was how should the government deal with the cost of living crisis. Rather daft answers from all of the panel even the Nobel Prize winning economist.
The correct answer is ditch net zero, deregulate, cut the size of government in half, have fair competition in energy, banking, schools, healthcare (not a dire state monopoly), housing, transport, relax planning, stop blocking the roads⊠have sensible levels of high skilled only immigration (so as not to undercut wage levels)
Stop debasing the currency with QE and endless government waste, ditch HS2âŠ
Most answers indeed almost all were the complete reverse. Labourâs GBEnergy for a green energy revolution lunacy for example.
May 5, 2024
Absolutely correct. I went to bed after the first question. The chances of keeping costs down by ending the war and Europe using cheap pipeline gas and fertiliser etc are just about zero. More wind and solar approved and now double cost floating windfarms. While the hidden cist of subsidies and distribution is on top of the newly approved prices for so called free energy.
https://davidturver.substack.com/p/exposing-the-hidden-costs-of-renewables
May 5, 2024
+1, follow the money and the crony capitalism, there is surely no other explanation for this lunacy.
May 5, 2024
+++
More money than can be dreamed of at the very top.
Poverty never before seen at the bottom.
And either endless strife or iron control.
Strife I think because control is expensive!
May 5, 2024
It must take some outfit a big effort to find such a hopeless, incompetent, biased, and thick panel.
May 5, 2024
The BBC are indeed extremely very good at that.
They also have huge discrimination against while males in their recruitment (and anyone sensible who has a grasp of science, maths or logic.) Preferring religion, visible if possible diversity and irrational emotion.
May 5, 2024
When will our non-Conservative government realise that we donât need âschemesâ to lower taxes and regulations. We just need lower taxes and regulations.
May 5, 2024
Lower taxes, less regulation, far less government, a state sector of circa half the size, fewer incentives for the feckless not to work, ditch net zero, relax planning.
In the same way we do not need endless new laws to stop shop lifting, burglary, knife and violent crime, muggings, internet and bank fraud⊠we just need to properly enforce the existing laws and have some suitable deterrents – we currently have almost none.
May 5, 2024
Totally in denial like everything else. No wonder you are being trashed at the polls.
May 5, 2024
and Sunak doesn’t appear bothered, saying he’s disappointed ….he’s bloody just lost a war and let the enermy takeover 90% of our territory
May 5, 2024
JRs polling in his constituency has increased. You and the whole Conservative political machine should be looking at that and drawing a few conclusions.
May 5, 2024
John just can’t bring himself to publicly condemn the Socialist cancer of climate change ideology and its prescription of Net Zero.
What is the point of voting for politicians who we know to be saying things they themselves do not believe?
Reply I have consistently opposed bad net zero policies and exposed big gaps between the theory and the practice.
May 5, 2024
To reply:- There are no good ânet zeroâ policies. Net zero is vastly expensive and it has zero indeed negative benefits.
Some renewables can make engineering and economic sense as can some extra insulation, heat-pumps, battery vehicles, public transport⊠and might save CO2 as a side effect – but only in certain situations. To do any of these things with a reduction of CO2 emissions as the aim (especially using taxpayer subsidies as bribes) is invariably idiotic. Where they stand up on their own terms & without tax payer subsidies then fine. But the war on CO2 is totally misguided not only that but most of the things they push, like vastly expensive and short lived EV cars, walking, burning wood at Drax do not even save CO2 – indeed they actually increase it.
May 5, 2024
Reply to reply
Yes but some people are ruthless and downright rotten.
They have no good side to appeal to.
Earlier a severe and brutal U turn was needed.
And one man can not do that alone.
May 5, 2024
…and SirJ is the good one, allowing some balance and arguement but the other tory MPs love net-zero 100%
May 5, 2024
reply to reply ….but you Sir John are such an exception to mass non-thinking sheep aligned with you in the doomed Party.
May 5, 2024
And in other news Richard Haddon says time to get behind Sunak. âInto the valley of death they thunderedâ
Absolutely incapable of seeing his centrist approach hamstrung by the One Nation group has given the right to the Reform Party, add disaffected Tory voters who wonât turn out taking you to disaster.
Nothing will be lost apart from honours for the sycophants by putting in someone like Badenoch or e dark horse Jenrick , who at least has some oomph. Obviously the self entitled beige alternatives will push back, I guess preferring to sink rather than work under someone else.
Obviously the
May 5, 2024
Richard Holden was unable to keep hold of his own agent, who is now campaigning for Reform. His constituency office does not respond and he has himself been banned from several local establishments.
He is leading the whole Conservative Party in the same way as he leads his Constituency.
May 5, 2024
Yes it is time to get behind Sunak – all pushing him over the cliff of idiocy as PM, hopefully to disappear of the political radar never to make news ever again.
May 5, 2024
In 1934 the average temperature EACH day was OVER 99 degrees. Can you imagine the hysterics from the Green Party today.
Luckily the Green Party and their supporters have ignored temperatures before 1960.
Reply Surely not in the UK!
May 5, 2024
In Dubai.
May 5, 2024
I did laugh at that – wondering if it was at the bottom of a busy coalmine in Wales?
May 5, 2024
Does this mean Taxpayers funding these schemes
May 5, 2024
From you recent lecture and subsequent discussion at Brasenose College it was clear that your stance is to continue to ask the difficult questions that few other MPs seem willing to ask, rather than come out as an opponent of Net Zero. Thatâs fair enough. But would the â is it not the caseâ questions be even more powerful if supplemented regularly byâ is it not the case that Net Zero and carbon budgets are the root cause and urgently need to be reviewedâ?
May 5, 2024
Indeed and this appalling WHO power grab!
May 5, 2024
+++
Yes indeed.
But look at what they do to dissenters!
They imposed a new religionâŠdestroying the old one first.
The novel form of worship does not adhere to the principles that most of us in this country embrace.
(The Christian principles that allow amoral govt.s and charities etc to âpull the woolâ).
They behave like all the countries we used to despise and fear.
And in the process have totally laid waste this one.
May 5, 2024
The CBAM is one of those many EU schemes, intended to do something useful but often results in muddle, waste and other negative effects. Critics claim it âraises concerns over global welfare costs, GDP losses, and violation of equality principlesâ.
May 5, 2024
I would ask how much of âOURâ taxpayer money in reality just finishes up subsiding Tataâs Global empire.
I have no information as with regard Tata, but there is a thing that global enterprises charge exorbitant administration fees payable to their home office that is usually equivalent to the amount of corporation tax due in the operating area.
Tata received ÂŁ500 million of taxpayer funding and laid off 2,800 workers. This Conservative Government only permits the company to recycle steel in the UK, the specialty steel they used to manufacture needed for UK industry and defense now has to be imported at greater cost. It is doubtful there is a market for recycled steel as itâs a cheap importable product. So a lose, lose for the Taxpayer, the workers the people of the UK
The Conservative Government is exporting jobs, exporting UK wealth and they want us to trust them!
The Tata organization also received ÂŁ400 million of UK taxpayer Conservative Government giveaways to share with the Chinese to import Chinese components for assembly in Somerset.
A good year for Tata, a bad year for the UK taxpayer and this Conservative Government? That is clearly the plan PM Sunak talked about in the media yesterday – to offshore all possibility of the UK creating wealth and a future. Were is the plan for the UK economy, the plan to ensure the UK people are safe, secure, self-reliant and resilient?
May 5, 2024
ââthe very high energy prices in this country, which have been made high by regulations and taxes?ââ
ââthe very high energy prices in this country, which have been made high by Tory government policy of net-zero?ââ
Iâve corrected the sentence, you’re welcome
May 5, 2024
Can someone please explain to me exactly what the PM has done to make him think he might have revived the Tory prospects??
I mean, I am absolutely no politician but one hour with LL, taking his advice and I am sure the tories would start steaming up the polls.
Or is it simply decreed to be Bugginâs turn for LabourâŠgive another Davos man the chance to devastate?
May 5, 2024
The place of growth, the USA has taxpayer handouts to encourage growth. The criteria for receiving such funding is for an entity to be US based, a US taxpayer, the premise being that taxpayer money trickles down and finishes up back in the coffers of the Treasury. The money goes around a generates more money, more wealth.
The 14 years of this Conservative Government and reaching a crescendo under Sunak is how much UK money can he export, how much wealth can he remove from the UK. All now under the guise of the none assistant science of Net-Zero. The malicious destruction of the UK writ large.
A UK economy, the UK having wealth creation all Conservative Government âno-noâsâ
May 5, 2024
They need to stop scheming and start CUTTING TAXES!
David will not hold Monmouthshire.
May 5, 2024
Given that already in October 2010 Davies was already among the âClimate Foolsâ supporting the quarter-wit Piers Corbyn will it be a big loss?
May 5, 2024
Oh Monmouthshire will be a huge loss – but of course losing Davies will be no loss. I say that with sadness.
May 5, 2024
Sir John,
Congratulations on being on the Climate Disinformation Database website of deniers. I would consider it an honour.
I have noticed that there have been some recent cases where eco nutters have taken their government to court for not doing enough to combat climate change as per their legal obligation. How enforceable are such judgements and who will enforce them?
Are we completely bound by some international treaty or other regarding climate targets land could a sovereign government change their legal position on the basis that, no government can bind future governments? A straight reply would be appreciated as it would save me writing to you. Thanks in anticipation.
May 5, 2024
@Cliff.. Wokingham. – 189 Countries in the World are moving forward and prospering with no laws to remove any of their abilities to create wealth, security at home, resilience and self-reliance. In fact they all love this Conservative Government for banning progress in the UK while allowing them to full-fill the UK’s needs.
May 5, 2024
Port Talbot has been sacrificed on the alter of the net zero nonsense aided and abetted by a government who have driven up energy costs and respond by saying ‘not us guv’
May 5, 2024
‘The Smart Secure Electricity Systems (SSES) Programme is designed to create the technical and regulatory frameworks to enable the untapped flexibility from small scale devices, such as domestic electric vehicle charge points and heat pumps. It should contribute to electricity system decarbonisation in a way that protects consumers and the electricity system’
https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/delivering-a-smart-and-secure-electricity-system-implementation
Net-zero front & center, all the way …SSES should be renamed ‘ govt can cut off your energy at any time’
May 5, 2024
I have read and re-read JR’s question and I note that he did not demand that the Morfa coking plant be kept open, blaming Net Zero as the cause since the Trade Unions involved have accepted that it would need to close for reason of its deteriorating performance. However, Tata is also intent on closing the two blast furnaces which are fired by coke and replacing them with electric arc furnaces; this is quite clearly Net Zero related and will require a huge amount of electric energy which, no doubt, will be subsidised by the taxpayer.
Why does the Tory party continue to accept that foreign-owned companies can dominate our most important industries as if our vital national interest can only be served adequately by ensuring that the Russians trapped in South Eastern Ukraine are forced to accept their continuing enclosure in an artificial state created by the Bolsheviks?
Will the Tories mind our business for a change by addressing such facts as that the 40% of Londoners who are English did not succeed in removing a man with widely disliked policies from the the Mayoralty?
May 5, 2024
+++
And the ballot papers were not counted until Saturday!!
As my mother in law would have saidâŠ.
âWhy?â.
May 5, 2024
It is too late for SunakâŠ
But not too late to get Boris back. âCoiled black mambaâ.
Never mind phoningâŠMarch into number 10!
I knowâŠI know and I am not that much enamoured.
But I do not want a Labour government.
And what do the tories have to lose?
May 5, 2024
The drain on the Taxpayer, all with zero reward to the people funding their operations – the Taxpayer.
Tata Warns the Conservative Government they will quit the Country if….
Jingye Group the owners of British Steel warn they will quit the Country if…
Steel giant ArcelorMittal warns Gove may be forced to “cease operations in Britain” if…
The French State owned EDF threatens to leave if they are not given more taxpayer money. if…
The phrase that causes this Conservative Government to buckle If…
The common thread âgive me or elseâ, the common response from Sunak and this Conservative Government tax more to pay more money that gets to leave the Country, leaving the individual taxpayer paying twice for the same. Some how the UK taxpayer is everyoneâs patsy. The taxpayer, the Country has no security, no resilience the Conservative Government have exported and banished UK wealth creation.
The rest of the World grows exponentially stronger on this Conservative Governments punishment of Net-Zero and more taxes. The rest of the World, the real World are not playing these draconian games with their people.
May 5, 2024
Elsewhere in the media a former Minister highlights that the Conservatives always win elections when they hear and work with the people. There becomes a common objective.
This Conservative Government seeks to fight, control and punish the people, treat the people as the enemy â why on earth would the people vote for more attrition?
May 5, 2024
âWhen will the Government do something about the very high energy prices in this country, which have been made high by regulations and taxes?â
The UN IPCC WG1 (âthe scienceâ) can find no signal for climate change other than some slight warming (0.14 degrees C per decade). The UN rates climate action as #13 in its list of sustainable development goals. The UKâs emissions of CO2 amount to just 1% of the global total. The Net Zero Strategy is to transition from cheap, abundant reliable hydrocarbon fuels to expensive, meagre, chaotically intermittent renewables and to ignore nuclear which is half the price of foxed offshore wind at the next renewables auction, AR6. There is no plan for grid-scale electricity storage so the only option to prevent total grid collapse is DSR (Demand Side Response) aka dynamic pricing and rolling blackouts. The DESNZ last month published a âconsultationâ document on how heat pumps and evs will be remotely controlled.
The transition to renewables together with electrification is deliberate and will be used for control. There cannot be any other reason.