Energy efficiency taskforce chair quits after bank scandal

Dame Alison Rose has quit as co-chair of the government’s national Energy Efficiency Taskforce after resigning as group chief executive of Natwest.

Rose quit her position at Natwest after admitting that she had revealed personal financial information about former UKIP leader Nigel Farage to the BBC.

Energy security and net zero secretary of state Grant Shapps subsequently asked Rose to step down from her role leading the taskforce.

A Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) spokesperson told Utility Week that following the secretary of state’s request, she had resigned from that role and her membership of the government’s Net Zero Council.

Rose was unveiled by chancellor Jeremy Hunt in February as co-chair of the taskforce, which has been charged with devising a workplan to help reduce total UK energy demand from buildings and industry to the tune of 15% from 2021 levels by 2030. Today’s resignation leaves junior energy minister Lord Callanan as sole chair of the taskforce.

The DESNZ spokesperson said: “Following the news overnight, the Secretary of State has asked Dame Alison Rose to step down from her roles as co-chair of the Energy Efficiency Taskforce and as a Member of the Net Zero Council and she has resigned.”

Rose’s resignation has compounded the wider disarray surrounding energy efficiency policy with Michael Gove, secretary of state for levelling up and housing, signalling that the government is preparing to backtrack on the implementation of higher insulation standards in the private rental sector.

Under the existing timetable, consulted on nearly two and a half years ago, landlords would have to meet EPC (energy performance certificate) Band C for new tenancies from 2025 and existing lets from 2028.