Shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves visits Lowestoft

After visiting Norwich and Ipswich on Thursday, a tour of key Labour battleground seats in the East of England continued on Friday as Rachel Reeves visited Lowestoft and Great Yarmouth.

After announcing Labour would cut household energy bills by insulating five million homes over the next five years, Ms Reeves said that a future Labour government would create almost 40,000 new jobs for the East of England.

Rachel Reeves visits the ScottishPower Renewables operations and maintenance base in Lowestoft. Picture: Mick Howes (Image: Mick Howes)

During visits to the Port of Lowestoft, ScottishPower Renewables operations and maintenance base in Lowestoft and Scroby Sands wind farm in Great Yarmouth, Ms Reeves was joined by Jess Asato, the Labour candidate for Lowestoft, and Keir Cozens, Labour’s candidate for Great Yarmouth.

Associated British Ports (ABP) hosted Ms Reeves, at the Port of Lowestoft where major infrastructure upgrades are cementing ABP’s role as a vital enabler of the energy transition.

L-R: Paul Ager, Henrik Pedersen, Rachel Reeves, Jess Asato, Tom Duit, Javier Escandon-Ramirez. Picture: Steven Gardiner (Image: Steven Gardiner)

Henrik Pedersen, ABP Chief Executive Officer briefed the shadow chancellor on ABP’s role in driving energy security and green growth.

Ms Reeves was also hosted by ScottishPower Renewables at its Lowestoft offshore wind operations and maintenance base on Hamilton Road.

Rachel Reeves and Jess Asato visit the ScottishPower Renewables operations and maintenance base in Lowestoft. Picture: Mick Howes (Image: Mick Howes)

She toured the facility with the operations team, heard about the difference its multi-billion green investment is making across the East of England, chatted to apprentices beginning their careers in renewables and met the construction team working on East Anglia THREE.

Two more wind farms and further investment will follow as part of the East Anglia Hub.

Rachel Reeves and Jess Asato visiting the East Anglia ONE control room in Lowestoft. Picture: Mick Howes (Image: Mick Howes)

Ms Reeves said: "It's really exciting to be here in Lowestoft, to have visited the port and ScottishPower and see the work the team is doing with East Anglia ONE and into the future with East Anglia THREE.

"There is huge potential.

"ABP is a leading business that sits right at the heart of the green energy transition.

"It was also really inspiring to meet some of the young people working here at ScottishPower – apprentices and graduate trainees George and Joe.

L-R: Rachel Reeves, Jess Asato, George Browne (Apprentice Technician), Joe Whitley (Graduate Programme). Picture: Mick Howes (Image: Mick Howes)

"Both of them are from the local area and you can see the pride that they felt about contributing to such a nationally important project as boosting our energy security."

Jess Asato, Labour’s candidate for Lowestoft, said: "Lowestoft is the beating heart of green energy production in the east with our offshore wind and green business base and our port is a key enabler.

L-R: Steve Hodger, Jess Asato, Rachel Reeves and George Browne at ScottishPower Renewables'. Picture: Mick Howes (Image: Mick Howes)

"Labour's Green Prosperity plans will boost Lowestoft as a leader in providing high quality jobs in the green energy sector, at the same time as helping to lower people's energy bills and paving the way towards Net Zero.

"I'm delighted to welcome Rachel Reeves to hear first hand about Lowestoft Port's ambitions to become one of the leading carbon neutral ports, including zero carbon vessel fuelling."

L-R Steve Hodger, ScottishPower Renewables; Labour's Rachel Reeves and Jess Asato; Matt Wooltoron, ScottishPower Renewables. Picture: ScottishPower Renewables (Image: ScottishPower Renewables)

Steve Hodger, principal operations manager at ScottishPower Renewables’ East Anglia ONE offshore windfarm, said: "It was a pleasure to welcome the Shadow Chancellor to Lowestoft alongside ABP Ports and highlight what we’re doing to create a cleaner, greener and more prosperous future for the region and across the UK.”

After visiting Scroby Sands Wind Farm with Ms Reeves on Friday afternoon, Mr Cozens, Labour's candidate for Great Yarmouth said: "Great Yarmouth's coastline isn't just a draw for tourists; it's our ticket to powering Great Britain with clean, affordable energy.

"With Labour's plan, we can transform our area into a powerhouse for industries like offshore wind and carbon capture, cutting bills and creating good jobs all along the supply chain."

The visits came as new figures show Labour's Green Prosperity Plan could see 38,000 new jobs brought to the East of England.