Ed Miliband could be the most high-profile victim of a spring reshuffle as Sir Keir Starmer sidelines the Net Zero environmental agenda as part of the Government’s ‘dash for growth’, senior Whitehall sources have said.
The Energy and Net Zero Secretary, a long-term opponent of airport expansion, was outmanoeuvred last week when the Government announced it was ‘minded to approve’ a second runway at Gatwick – just weeks after backing the opening of a third runway at Heathrow.
Mr Miliband’s voice has been increasingly marginalised around the Cabinet table as Chancellor Rachel Reeves struggles to inject growth into a sluggish economy.
After the Heathrow announcement, Mr Miliband said he would ‘support what the Government is doing’.
Ms Reeves has argued airport expansion is essential for economic growth, but Mr Miliband believes it should only happen if UK carbon emissions targets are met.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said she was not a ‘flight-shaming eco warrior’, which was perceived as a dig at Mr Miliband, after indicating a standby runway at Gatwick would be made permanent and could enable an extra 100,000 flights a year by the end of the decade.
Critics have pointed out that Mr Miliband’s zeal to cut UK emissions comes at a time when households are already paying some of the world’s steepest energy bills.
A source said: ‘Ed has felt the earth move under his feet since the election.
Energy and Net Zero Secretary, Ed Miliband (pictured) could be the most high-profile victim of a spring reshuffle
Ed Miliband (pictured) an opponent of airport expansion, was outmanoeuvred last week when the Government announced it was ‘minded to approve’ a second runway at Gatwick
The Prime Minister (pictured) emulated another Trumpian strategy last week by cutting foreign aid to boost defence spending
‘The Net Zero agenda has been subsumed by the need to boost the floundering economy and the new world order in Washington.
‘It’s obvious he is not happy, and might jump if he is not pushed.’
It comes after the Prime Minister emulated another Trumpian strategy last week by cutting foreign aid to boost defence spending, leading to the resignation of Anneliese Dodds as International Development Minister.
Mr Miliband has also been a fervent supporter of foreign aid and has argued that cuts would ‘hurt those countries on the frontline of the climate emergency’.
He also described the target of preserving 0.7 per cent of GDP for aid was the ‘benchmark of whether you are doing your bit’.
Other Cabinet ministers tipped to be moved in the reshuffle include Attorney General Lord Hermer and Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson. A No 10 spokesman said that they never comment on reshuffles.
