Labour party leader Ed Miliband today attacked plans to slash subsidies for onshore windfarms by 10%.

He warned plans could damage investment in the North-east's emerging green energy sector.

The former Energy Minister hit out at David Cameron's pledge to become the "greenest Government ever" after he announced a cut in funding to windfarm projects, which continue to spring up across Aberdeenshire.

He described the Tory-led coalition's commitment to the renewables sector as a "ridiculous joke" in a withering attack on the Government's energy policy.

But he welcomed the announcement this week that Chinese firms are to buy up assets that account for almost 10% of the UK's entire oil and gas production with plans to move into the North Sea energy market.

He said: "I understand people's concerns, but the point I would make is we do need foreign investment, including into the North Sea.

"What the North Sea needs most of all from government, in my experience as Energy Minister, is a proper sense of stability and a proper sense of a plan for the North Sea.

"What this government has singularly failed to do is provide that sense of stability or planning for what is happening in the North Sea.

"Take the argument about renewables and gas; yet again it is evidence of a government providing uncertainty for investors. People want to know what is your energy plan for the future? How does the North Sea fit into that?"

Mr Miliband was in Edinburgh yesterday as part of a tour to put his party back in touch with grassroots issues.

He also accused the Government of having "chopped and changed on energy planning".

He added: "The way it's gone after North Sea oil taxation, and then slightly changed its mind, hasn't provided the stability I think investors in the North Sea need.

"On day two, David Cameron said this was the greenest government ever and that looks like a ridiculous joke.

"George Osborne appears to believe you can either be green or you can be a successful economy. Wrong. You need to be green to have a successful economy.

"A lot of the jobs in the future will come from green jobs."

Mr Miliband also announced a series of proposals to combat Britain's flagging economy as figures this week revealed another quarter of negative growth.

He said the party would introduce a temporary cut on VAT, saving motorists 2.5p a litre on fuel, and it would "advance infrastructure projects" to help the construction sector.

ko'sullivan@ajl.co.uk

Copyright 2012 Aberdeen Journals Ltd. All Rights Reserved.

(Originally published July 26, 2012, in Aberdeen Evening Express.)