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UTILITY WEEK | 9TH - 15TH SEPTEMBER 2016 | 11 Policy & Regulation as is nuclear power. He does favour the con- tinuing use of coal, but only if carbon cap- ture technology is used. Smith agrees with Corbyn on the need for innovative technology to help solve the low carbon capacity need. He is a big supporter of hydrogen fuel cells, but differs to Corbyn on nuclear power. The challenger is a big supporter of technology and has been vocal in his criticism of the government for delay- ing a decision on Hinkley Point C. Another area of commonality between Smith and Corbyn is the use and deployment of large-scale renewable technologies. Both men support it and see it as a vital part of the UK achieving its Climate Change Act goals. Corbyn is calling for a National Invest- ment Bank to fund renewable schemes, with new projects being publicly owned as well as community owned. A key part of this is to ensure that any developments that do take place help protect the current ecosystems and biodiversity of the areas where they are built. He is also keen to "protect and extend" EU environmental regulations despite Brexit. Smith follows a similar tone to Corbyn in so far as he wants the state to fund and own renewable energy projects. At a debate in Gateshead, he said: "I'd think about hav- ing a nationalised renewables company. If it makes sense to private companies to invest enormous amounts over 100-year periods in, for example, harnessing wind and wave power in this country, why should the gov- ernment not do that?" The final element of the trilemma, afford- ability, would be tackled in similar ways by both men. Smith says he wants to wants to "end the scandal of fuel poverty" and help lower consumer energy bills by investing in an energy efficiency programme. Corbyn, while not stating anything in his 10 pledges, has seen Labour put forward plans to improve the energy efficiency of the UK housing stock, which would cut con- sumption and reduce bills. Conclusion The energy visions of Corbyn and Smith in the Labour leadership battle are similar, although there are some areas of differen- tiation, such as support for nuclear power and the subtleties of how each man wants to achieve their goals. The winner will not immediately be able to put his vision into action, however, since leaders of the opposition can only challenge and hold the government to account. If either man, once chosen, fails to unify their fractured party, the opposition will remain weak and policy uncertainty in the Labour ranks will go on. This would leave utilities uncertain of Labour's position over key areas – such as the UK's future relation- ship with Europe, environmental regula- tions, and even support for new forms of energy generations and plants. With Brexit bringing more than enough uncertainty, stability in the opposition is viewed as a necessity. Corbyn: Invest £500 million in infrastruc- ture, manufacturing and new indus- tries backed up by a publicly-owned National Investment Bank to build a high skilled, high tech, low carbon economy. It would invest in public and community-owned renewable energy. Social justice will be placed at the heart of environmental policies, and take the UK will take "our fair share of action" to meet the Paris climate agreement, including meet- ing the Climate Change Act goals. EU environmental protections will be defended and extended. Railways will be brought into public ownership and democratic social control will be established over energy. Smith: As part of his 20 radical policy pledges "to make Britain a fairer, more equal country", Smith has unveiled a British New Deal. This would see more £200 billion invested in the nation's key infrastructure over a five-year period. Smith also wants to "end the scandal of fuel poverty" and help to lower consumer energy bills by investing in energy efficiency. The Labour leadership chal- lenger is also a supporter of nuclear power and backs the development of the new generation of reactors, including Hinkley Point C, calling on the government to urgently make its decision and allow construction to begin. Leadership timeline 22 July-16 September: Hustings period 12pm, 21 September: Ballot closes 24 September: Result announced 25-28 September: Labour party conference Labour leadership voting intention Who will you vote for in the Labour leadership election? (Labour's electorate) Source: YouGov, 25 August 2016 Owen Smith 38% Jeremy Corbyn Last time around… Following Labour's disastrous showing at the 2015 general election, which saw the Conservatives win a majority for the first time since 1992, then leader Ed Miliband resigned on 8 May. Three mainstream candidates were nominated by the party. Andy Burnham, Yvette Cooper, and Liz Kendall, before Jeremy Corbyn was also nominated, although he was seen as the dark horse and his nomi- nation was as a way of broadening the debate to include views from the le of the party. Opinion polls showed Corbyn was ahead, and despite high-profile party members voicing their opposition, including former prime minis- ter Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, he was able to win the contest in the first voting round, gaining almost 60 per cent of the party vote. Candidate Votes Percentage Jeremy Corbyn 251,417 59.5 Andy Burnham 80,462 19 Yvette Cooper 71,928 17 Liz Kendall 18,857 4.5 UtilityWeekLobby Party conference coverage Utility Week will be covering the annual party conferences of the three major political parties, providing you with news, reaction and analysis from Liverpool, Birmingham and Glasgow. Labour: Liverpool, 25-28 September Conservatives: Birmingham, 2-5 October SNP: Glasgow, 13-15 October 62% Key policies On the record: Corbyn as leader Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn promised "a different kind of politics" and to end "throwing clubhouse theatrical abuse across the floor of parliament". The first couple of prime minister's questions were relatively subdued, with Corbyn putting questions from the public to the PM. This vision of a different kind of politics also extended to the energy sector, where, despite personal wishes to see renationalisation, it was actually plans to "democratize" energy that came from the party at last year's party conference in Brighton. This was le vague, and then-shadow energy secretary Lisa Nandy and former shadow energy minister Alan Whitehead were le to clarify. The idea is to encourage the decentralisation of generation and the development of community energy projects. However, as opinion poll ratings plummeted, discontent entered the Corbyn camp, with backbenchers deserting their leader. Mass resignations from the shadow cabinet and ministerial teams saw Corbyn having to replace his shadow energy and environment teams, with nothing more than vague commitments and rhetoric, rather than firm policy plans, being pitched to the public.