Green Party leader demands more renewable energy... then vows to vote against renewable energy plan

Speaking to the BBC, Ramsay reiterated his opposition to the electricity pylon route through East Anglia.

He said: “Like any other politician, I am a constituency MP first and foremost, as well as contributing to the national debate.

“When there’s a planning application on any particular issue, any elected representative will work with their residents to put forward their questions and concerns about their particular proposal.

“And there are particular concerns about this route that is proposed through my constituency.”

Ramsay, who spoke out against the regional proposal during his election campaign, added: “My background is in renewable energy and I am the first to say that we need to accelerate the roll-out of renewable energy and we need to do that in the right way.”

The 42-year-old, who co-leads the Green Party alongside Bristol Central MP Carla Denyer, gained experience in the renewable energy sector at the Centre for Alternative Technology and MCS Charitable Foundation.

The 2024 General Election delivered the Green Party's best result, with Ramsay and Denyer returning four MPs after hoovering up 1.9 million votes.

Ramsay is opposing National Grid’s plan to build the power line to carry 50 gigawatts of electricity generated by offshore windfarms.

The private firm described the proposal as “vital infrastructure” in view of the Government’s net zero commitments and would help connect 50 gigawatts of offshore wind.

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In the Green Party’s 2024 manifesto, Ramsay and Denyer vowed to push for more wind energy.

“Wind to provide around 70 per cent of the UK’s electricity by 2030,” the manifesto said.

The manifesto added: “The UK’s current climate targets do not reflect the urgency of the climate crisis.

“We would push the Government to transition to a zero-carbon society as soon as possible, and more than a decade ahead of 2050.”

National Grid also said it carefully considered several alternative options, including offshore.

In a statement, National Grid said: “Delaying this vital infrastructure project would not only result in missing this target, but also delay homes and businesses in East Anglia and beyond having access to cleaner and more affordable electricity in the long term.”

National Grid also intends for part of the route to include underground sections, including beneath River Stour and Dedham Vale and at Great Horkesley in Essex.

During his interview with the BBC, Ramsay also voiced concern about Labour’s plan to turbocharge housebuilding.

“Waiting for growth as a way to fix the chronic problems in our NHS and child poverty, in this country, isn’t the right way to go,” he said. “We can if we have the political will to do so, address these issues.”

Ramsay added: “On the question of housing, the people I speak to, in my constituency, in East Anglia and around the country, say that the homes that are being built do not meet people’s needs.

“They’re far too expensive, often executive homes, and people are being priced out of being able to live in their local communities.

“The question that I would raise is how do we bring about a set of housing policies that empower councils and communities to ensure that homes that are being built do actually meet local needs.

“The people that I speak to want to see more developments of the right sort, housing that is actually meeting local needs and yes protecting green field sites and ensuring that local services get the investment that’s needed when those homes are built.

“What people are really sad about is that people are being priced out of their local town, their local village.

“We need to ensure that when Labour try to tackle the local housing crisis, and they’re asking some of the right questions, we don’t want to give a blank cheque to developers to give them more profits.”

The Department for Energy Security & Net Zero spokesperson said earlier this month: "Securing Britain's clean energy future requires improving outdated infrastructure to get renewable electricity on the grid and unleash its true potential.

"National Grid has put the Norwich to Tilbury proposals out for public consultation and like all infrastructure, these proposals would be subject to a rigorous planning permission process."