Herald letters

IT really is now time for the Prime Minister to put Ed Miliband out to grass. Mr Miliband seems perfectly comfortable with the UK having exceptionally high energy costs with his zealous drive to net zero. He tweeted how delighted he was that he had “sent a clear message to the world” having banned new coal mines. In what scenario does Mr Miliband believe the Chinese, amongst others, would accept his “clear message”?

China is currently building more coal power plants than the rest of the world combined, with 367 plants now in operation. The Chinese are building over 200 new airports. The UK’S contribution to global CO2 emissions stands at less than 1 % whilst Chinese emissions are

33%, USA 13%, India 7% and Russia 5%. The Prime Minister’s drive to accommodate China is further evidenced by the wavingthrough of the new Chinese “mega”-embassy in London and the UK Government’s naivety is demonstrated by the Treasury Minister James Murray’s comment that China is not a “hostile state” – this from a minister who will have been very involved in taking control of Chinese-owned British Steel. The Government must wake up to the threat China poses to any coherent industrial strategy developed by the UK

Government.

Richard Allison, Edinburgh.