King’s Speech

Baroness Griffin of Princethorpe Excerpts

Tuesday 19th May 2026 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Griffin of Princethorpe (Lab)]

My Lords, my arthritis is not very good today, so I am sure your Lordships will forgive me for speaking while seated. I will focus on energy, and I warmly welcome the speeches of my noble friends Lord Whitehead and Lady Curran, and that of the noble Earl, Lord Russell. I add my congratulations to all our wonderful maiden speakers.

After the second fossil fuel crisis in five years, it is clear that clean power is the only route to energy security. Energy independence is a vital goal of national security, as shown by recent events in the Middle East. This requires increased production of homegrown, clean and affordable British energy. Faster action on the energy transition and climate change will help address many of the country’s most pressing challenges, including long-term cost of living, energy security and local job opportunities, and will have many co-benefits, such as cleaner air and warmer homes.

The energy independence Bill must strengthen us against energy price shocks for the long term and create thousands of clean, green apprenticeships and jobs. As my noble friends said, we need to get off the oil price rollercoaster. Energy independence must mean affordable energy for consumers, including private renters, not just more generation. We must secure a just transition for workers from old industries to new, and place tackling energy poverty at the heart of all relevant legislation. I wrote the energy poverty manifesto, which was adopted by the European Parliament and the European Commission. Now as then, no one should have to choose between eating and heating or cooling their homes.

To touch on culture very briefly, I congratulate Coventry City FC on their promotion and say, “Play up, Sky Blues”.