The Labour Party government is considering a ban on the sale of traditional tumble dryers under a net-zero push led by Energy Secretary Ed Miliband. The move would phase out condenser tumble dryers and promote heat-pump alternatives to reduce carbon emissions.
Reaction from Reform UK
Richard Tice, Reform UK’s business, trade and energy secretary, strongly criticised the proposal. He said: “Mad Miliband’s latest net zero push to get rid of the traditional tumble dryer and force a more expensive alternative is utter madness. This new ludicrous move will not only push bills even higher in the short term, but it will also take longer to dry clothes and come with a huge fire risk.”
Tice added: “At a time when families are struggling with household costs, Labour is choosing to focus on tone-deaf green ideologies rather than listening to what the public wants. Reform UK will scrap the failing and disastrous net zero agenda and focus on bringing energy bills down.”
Conservative Party View
Claire Coutinho, the Conservative shadow energy secretary, also opposed the plan. She said: “Why not let consumers choose whether or not that works for them? This is the problem with our net zero legislation – it means Ed Miliband dictating what car people drive, how they should heat their homes and even what machine they can tumble their pyjamas in. This is Soviet levels of control.”
She continued: “That’s why we would repeal net zero legislation and focus on cheaper energy. The Conservatives’ plan is better for the environment and for people’s pockets.”
Government Defence
A Department for Energy Security and Net Zero spokesman defended the proposal, stating: “Energy efficient tumble dryers will save households up to £910 over their machine’s 20-year lifetime - putting money back into the pockets of hard-working people.”
The spokesman added: “Every tumble dryer model on the British market must comply with stringent safety regulations. There are no current specific safety concerns with heat pump tumble dryers.”
