Ed Miliband is expected to block a bid to ban the government from buying solar panels feared to have been made with slave labour.
The government is poised to vote against a Lords amendment to the Great British Energy Bill when it returns to the Commons on Tuesday.
The change would prevent taxpayer money being used to buy products from a company where there was ‘credible evidence’ of modern slavery in its supply chain.
The move comes amid mounting disquiet over the involvement of China in the Net Zero drive, such as the supply of wind turbines and solar panels.
Alongside security issues, there have been long-standing concerns over Beijing‘s use of forced Uighur labour.
Ed Miliband (pictured on a visit to China this month) is expected to block a bid to ban the government from buying solar panels feared to have been made with slave labour
There has been disquiet over the involvement of China in the Net Zero drive, such as the supply of wind turbines and solar panels (file picture)
Last month peers backed the cross-party amendment by 177 votes to 127, majority 50, despite the government arguing that there were already enough safeguards.
On Friday Mr Miliband unveiled GB Energy first project, an £180million investment installing rooftop panels on 200 school buildings and almost as many NHS sites.
But when asked where the solar panels will come from he conceded that some will come from China, which is responsible for an estimated 80 per cent of total global supply.
Quizzed as to why British ones were not being used, Mr Miliband told LBC radio: ‘Our solar panel industry has not got this kind of share of the market.’
When asked if they will come from China or Russia, he said: ‘Some of them will be, they’ll be from different countries, but that’s why we’ve got to build our domestic industry.’
The change agreed by peers to the GB Energy Bill triggered a round of parliamentary ‘ping-pong’, where legislation is batted between the two Houses until agreement is reached.
The proposed law would establish a state-owned limited firm, backed with £8.3billion of public cash, that would be tasked with investing in and developing clean energy projects as part of the drive to tackle climate change and meet the UK’s net zero emissions target.
Human rights campaigner Lord Alton of Liverpool, the independent cross-bencher who championed the amendment, said last month: ‘British labour will never be able to compete with slave labour or with industries that are heavily dependent on cheaper and dirtier energy.
He added: ‘This amendment puts it to Parliament ‘Do we want a slavery free green transition or are we content to allow the Government’s objectives to be achieved through forced labour in a state accused by the House of Commons of genocide?’
‘It should be inconceivable that the UK which did so much to end the scourge of slavery around the world would today accept or be willing to turn a blind eye on products made by a state with an imposed system of forced labour.’
But energy security minister Lord Hunt of King’s Heath said at the time: ‘My understanding here is that Great British Energy would already have a range of tools in place to support its efforts to identify and tackle human rights’ abuses in its supply chain.’
He added: ‘With these tools I am assured and confident Great British Energy will not ignore credible evidence of modern slavery and human rights abuses.’
Eleanor Lyons, the government’s independent anti-slavery commissioner, posted on X last week supporting the amendment
Shadow Net Zero minister Andrew Bowie told The Telegraph: ‘This week the Conservatives will challenge Labour to change the law to ensure that GB Energy can provide no financial assistance where evidence of modern slavery exists.
‘Will Red Ed do the right thing, and back us, or will he kowtow to China like his comrade Rachel Reeves?’
Eleanor Lyons, the government’s independent anti-slavery commissioner, posted on X last week: ’10 years since the Modern Slavery Act passed there are more victims identified than ever before.
‘The Govt should let the Great British Energy Bill be amended to protect human rights and reduce the risk of public procurement of goods made by forced labour.’
