Reaction to the appointment of Claire Coutinho as Energy Secretary

Claire Coutinho has been appointed as the new Energy Secretary, replacing Grant Shapps who moves to Defence Secretary, replacing Ben Wallace. Coutinho is the first member of the 2019 intake of Tory MPs to make it to the cabinet table.

Coutinho is a close ally of Rishi Sunak and has been described as a “rising star” of the Conservative Party. She is a former special adviser to Sunak and worked in the Treasury before entering Parliament.

As Energy Secretary, Coutinho will be responsible for overseeing the UK’s energy policy, including the government’s commitment to reach net zero emissions by 2050. She will also be tasked with dealing with the current energy crisis.

Her appointment has been welcomed by some, who see her as a fresh face who can bring new ideas to a role that was unremarkable under Grant Shapps.

Dave Timms, head of political affairs at Friends of the Earth, said:

“Good riddance to Grant Shapps. He seemed to be more concerned with playing childish politics on social media than the serious policies needed to address the greatest challenge of our time.

“The country needs a serious secretary of state that will step up to give the certainty and support that businesses, and people need to invest in the changes that will cut both emissions and the cost of living. We hope Claire Coutinho will be that person.”

RenewableUK CEO Dan McGrail said:

“I’m delighted that Claire Coutinho is taking up this crucial role, at a time when the clean energy sector is facing unprecedented global economic challenges. We need urgent intervention from the new Secretary of State to re-establish the UK as the best destination for international investment in renewables, as our competitors are upping the ante and trying to lure developers and manufacturers elsewhere.”

Greenpeace UK’s policy director Dr Doug Parr said:

“We don’t envy the new energy secretary’s job. She’s picked up the baton for the final leg of a relay where her fellow runners have mostly been walking, sometimes backwards. Her department has a huge amount of catching up to do to tackle both the energy and climate challenges in her new job title.

“Fortunately, there are plenty of things that will deliver on both, from removing absurd blockages to cheap renewables to fixing our energy-wasting homes and bringing our power grid into the 21st century.”

Jess Ralston, Energy Analyst at the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU) said:

“The in-tray for the new DESNZ Secretary of State is pretty full with documents that should be marked urgent. An announcement on the latest auction of the flagship renewables Contracts for Difference scheme is expected next week and may not deliver much which would leave bill payers footing the bill for failure given gas power stations are set to remain much more expensive than new offshore wind farms.

“Energy efficiency schemes that have delivered bill savings for homes in the past are flatlining and the government’s delay to insulation standards in the private rented sector will see renters, who are also voters, facing higher energy bills in the years to come.

“There is a lack of clarity on the fossil fuel boiler phase-out both on and off the gas grid.

“Despite committing to end the effective ban on onshore wind in December, the government is still yet to make any real progress, meaning less cheap electricity on the grid which translates to higher bills.

“Energy security has never been a higher priority, and insulating homes, moving away from gas boilers and building more British renewables all help make us less vulnerable to global oil and gas markets. It’s a no brainer to focus on these net zero policies to ensure households are shielded from future market volatility, getting on with delivering them will surely be a priority.”