Ed Miliband's new green jobs will bring Britain hope. I dare Reform to denounce them | Polly Toynbee

"This government is bad at proclaiming what it's for. But to find out, follow the money. Its boldest investment is in green energy, designed to create prodigious returns in economic growth, employment, training, climate action and more. So far it has been hard to sell. Wafty talk of greenness passes most people by, and whose growth is it, anyway? is a realistic question in a country of stagnant pay and public decay."

"But, this week, Ed Miliband put flesh on the green words, making jobs and projects concrete. A very big number of green jobs 400,000 by 2030 are set to be created in 31 priority occupations, from welders to production managers, plumbers and joiners, everywhere from Centrica's 35m state-of-the-art training academy in Lutterworth to Teesside's net-zero decarbonisation cluster. This is what a Labour industrial strategy should look like."

"Government figures show wind, nuclear and electricity jobs pay more than most the average advertised salary in the wind sector is 51,000 a year, against an average 37,000. Unions, once sceptical and fearful of losing jobs in unionised industries, now sign up with guarantees that any new plant getting grants must support greater trade union recognition and a fair work charter."

The government’s largest investment focuses on green energy to generate economic growth, employment, training, and climate action. Ed Miliband announced plans to create 400,000 green jobs by 2030 across 31 priority occupations, including welders, production managers, plumbers and joiners, with training hubs from Centrica’s Lutterworth academy to Teesside’s decarbonisation cluster. Questions remain about who benefits amid stagnant pay and public decay. Wind, nuclear and electricity roles often pay above average, with advertised wind salaries around 51,000 versus a 37,000 average. Unions now accept guarantees tying grants to trade-union recognition and a fair work charter. Green investment aims to repair skills deficits and revive youth employment.

Read at www.theguardian.com