2 min read
Conference season and the energy debate
As the UK party conference season gathers pace, energy and climate policy is emerging as a defining test for credibility and leadership - and business leaders should take note.
The Liberal Democrat pitch: ambition and innovation
At the Liberal Democrat conference in Bournemouth, polling highlighted by More in Common over the weekend showed their voters are twice as likely as supporters of other parties to prioritise the environment, and more willing to bear the costs of transition if it is fair and locally grounded. Clearly the party is thriving among voters who retain a strong appetite for ambitious action.
In response, Lib Dem Deputy Leader and Treasury Spokesperson Daisy Cooper unveiled a bold package: a new Energy Security Bank to finance household energy savings, backed by a temporary windfall tax on big banks to raise £7bn a year. She also made new pledges on zero-carbon building standards, a UK-EU Energy & Climate Security Pact, and a social energy tariff.
These are institutional innovations designed to capture the mood of the party faithful, blending fairness, investment and public trust. They’re also a signal to voters who want climate ambition without abandoning economic security.
Labour’s North Sea balancing act
By contrast, Labour looks set to arrive in Liverpool next weekend with a very different kind of announcement. Reports from The Times this weekend suggest Ed Miliband will soften the party’s hard line on the North Sea by allowing limited new “tie-in” projects - exploration linked to existing fields.
This reflects a pragmatic recognition of the 120,000 jobs and energy security at stake, but also raises questions over whether Labour can provide the long-term certainty and fiscal clarity investors are seeking. North Sea energy companies will welcome change but argue it must be followed by reform of the Energy Profits Levy to avoid being too little, too late.
Two visions of the transition
Taken together, these developments highlight the spectrum of UK energy transition politics today. The Lib Dems are experimenting with new financial institutions, demand-side reform and community empowerment. Labour is recalibrating supply-side pragmatism to balance ambition with economic stability. Both approaches will compete to shape the operating environment for business over the next parliament.
What it means for business
For businesses, the message is clear: the transition is no longer a distant aspiration. It is unfolding now, shaped by public opinion, party positioning and fiscal choices. Companies that want to influence outcomes can’t afford to be bystanders. They need to engage early, bring forward credible evidence on jobs, investment and innovation, and show how their plans align with both climate ambition and economic resilience.
Labour’s conference in Liverpool will be a critical test of whether the party can provide a framework that’s ambitious, investable and deliverable. Business voices that are clear, constructive and forward-looking will carry the greatest weight in shaping what comes next.
