Miatta Fahnbulleh has been appointed Secretary of State for Energy and Net Zero, marking a significant step in her political career but raising concerns within the energy sector and among political observers about the future direction of the United Kingdom’s energy policy. Fahnbulleh, who was promoted in July 2024, succeeds Ed Miliband, whose tenure in the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) was marked by ambitious climate targets and policies that critics say contributed to rising electricity costs.
Fahnbulleh’s elevation to full Cabinet status is notable, as she is the only Member of Parliament from the 2024 intake to achieve such a position. Before this appointment, she served as Miliband’s deputy within DESNZ. An adviser to the former Labour leader and a former policy analyst at the New Economics Foundation, Fahnbulleh has a reputation for advocating rigorous and expensive climate initiatives.
Her policy proposals have included calls for substantial government spending on green infrastructure—at times suggesting allocations as high as 5% of the UK’s GDP, equivalent to approximately £140 billion annually. She has also advocated for measures like free basic energy consumption, substantial subsidies for green jobs, and increased climate finance commitments to developing countries. Additionally, Fahnbulleh has expressed support for wealth and windfall taxes, nationalisation of key sectors, and stricter limits on business loans linked to high greenhouse gas emissions.
These positions have elicited mixed reactions. Supporters view her approach as a committed response to the climate crisis, while critics warn it could exacerbate energy insecurity and economic challenges. Some voices within the Labour Party and the energy industry worry that her tenure could continue or intensify the contentious policies initiated under Miliband, who recently transitioned to Foreign Secretary. One Scottish MP described the shift from Miliband to Fahnbulleh as a move from “Mad Miliband to madder than Miliband,” reflecting anxieties over possibly more radical energy policies.
Fahnbulleh’s stance on North Sea oil drilling is closely watched. The Conservative Party has leveraged calls for increased domestic oil production in recent elections, positioning themselves against what they describe as restrictive Labour energy policies. Though Fahnbulleh has yet to make a definitive public statement on this issue, sources close to Labour leadership, including allies of new Prime Minister Andy Burnham, suggest she may take a more pragmatic line, balancing Green priorities with economic realities and the cost of living.
The energy industry, particularly in Aberdeen and other regions reliant on oil and gas, has expressed concern. The Aberdeen Chamber of Commerce criticized her for representing “more of the same” in terms of regulatory and tax pressures, calling for an urgent reconsideration of current government approaches to support the sector’s stability and growth.
Fahnbulleh’s appointment follows her earlier resignation from Starmer’s government after poor local election results, a move that underlines ongoing volatility within Labour’s energy and climate policy circles. Observers note her close alignment with Miliband, raising questions about internal party dynamics and potential policy coherence.
As Fahnbulleh assumes her role, she faces the challenge of navigating between competing demands: advancing the government’s Net Zero ambitions while addressing the economic and political implications of energy policy decisions amid growing public scrutiny.