Grant Shapps, the business secretary, denied that a challenge from Tory rebels on onshore wind constitutes a “row” or that there is a “huge gulf” between their position and the governments.
A cabinet minister has stated that Rishi Sunak may abandon his position to block new onshore wind farms in the face of a mounting Tory rebellion. Sunak’s policy is to prohibit the construction of new onshore wind farms.
Former prime ministers Boris Johnson and Liz Truss are among the roughly 30 Conservatives who support former cabinet secretary Simon Clarke’s amendment to the Levelling Up Bill in favor of wind energy.
Business Secretary Grant Shapps denied that the challenge represents a “row” or that there is a “huge chasm” between the rebels and the government’s positions.
The amendment would permit wind farms in rural areas provided community permission is obtained.
Mr. Shapps implied that this is also the stance of the prime minister, even though Mr. Sunak pledged to keep the prohibition on the new onshore wind during his failed Tory leadership candidacy in the summer.
During his leadership campaign, Mr. Sunak stated, “Wind energy will be an important part of our strategy, but I want to reassure communities that as prime minister I would scrap plans to relax the ban on the onshore wind in England, focusing instead on the construction of more offshore turbines.
However, Mr. Shapps explained: “I’ve always stated – and [Mr. Sunak] has also always stated – that onshore wind development requires municipal approval.
“What is being presented is something that would ensure local approval.”
Mr. Shapps said that he has not “examined all of the implications of that in terms of the planning adjustments.”
However, he continued, “To portray it as a vast chasm is false.”
Labour’s support for the amendment makes it more likely that the business secretary will back down to avoid a humiliating defeat at the hands of Tory rebels.
Labour plans to support the amendment to increase the pressure on Mr. Sunak, despite the party’s belief that it “swaps the prohibition for what is still a severely restricted planning regime for onshore wind.”
Sunak facing cabinet split
Sir Jake Berry, a former chairman of the Conservative Party, and Alok Sharma, who presided over the COP26 climate meeting, are among the most recent top Conservative lawmakers to sign the bill.
Mr. Sunak also faces a rift within his own Cabinet, with Leveling-Up Secretary Michael Gove reportedly supporting the termination of the moratorium.
Downing Street stated that it would not speculate on “what may occur in the future” about onshore wind.
The official spokesman for the PM told reporters: “Developers are required to interact with local communities before submitting a planning application for onshore wind projects, as there are rather specific criteria governing what is permitted.
Therefore, I will not speculate on what may occur in the future.
He stated that the administration examines revisions to bills “when they are proposed” and that Mr. Sunak “has elaborated on his ideas regarding where the emphasis should be on renewables.”
During his time at Number 10, Mr. Johnson did not seek to remove the 2015 prohibition on new onshore wind projects, although Ms. Truss stated she would loosen the limits during her brief administration.
Efforts to safeguard the UK’s energy independence have increased calls for lifting the embargo, as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has constrained supply.
Put facts ahead of ideology
Greenpeace described the prohibition as “one of the most foolish and harmful laws ever enacted by the British government” and encouraged Mr. Sunak to “put facts before ideology…do the right thing and repeal the ban.”
Caroline Lucas, a member of the Green Party, stated that renewables such as onshore wind are nine times cheaper than gas and that it was “about time” that Mr. Sunak realized this.
She indicated the prime minister was about to do “yet another U-turn” after changing his decision not to attend COP27 and claimed he has “failed time and again to demonstrate the climate leadership our country requires.”
Mr. Sunak is not only challenged by onshore wind, but also by construction goals.
He was compelled to postpone a vote on the measure that would have mandated the construction of 300,000 homes each year because approximately fifty Tory lawmakers threatened to rebel.
In the meanwhile, more than fifty Tory MPs have signed a letter to the Prime Minister outlining the laws they desire to address the number of tiny boats crossing the Channel.
