Worcester MP Tom Collins has come under fire from Worcester Green Party leaders over his support for gas energy during a keynote speech he made at a conference.

The Greens say the Labour MP must do more to ensure we move away from ‘expensive and unreliable fossil fuels’ towards renewables, which do not get stuck in the ‘Strait of Hormuz’ as people struggle with energy bills.

However, the Labour MP says he is ‘trying to get both government and industry to go faster and be more ambitious in decarbonisation’ and the country is becoming a ‘green energy superpower’.

CRITICAL: Cllr Alex Mace believes we are too reliant on fossil fuels (Image: Supplied by the Green Party)

On April 21, Worcester’s MP gave the keynote address at the Institution of Gas Engineers and Managers (IGEM) Gas Utilisation Conference 2026.

IGEM’s own reporting on the speech says Mr Collins also pointed to the ‘continued role of gas in supporting electricity generation and highlighted the potential of hybrid heating systems to provide flexibility for consumers’.

Alex Mace, co-leader of the Green Group on Worcester City Council, said: “Britain’s electricity is amongst the most expensive in the world because it is tied to the price of gas. After Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine, the Government had to spend £100 billion on support for people and businesses to cope with the price of energy.

“We face the same problem again as a result of the American/Israeli boondoggle in Israel, and in the face of that our MP is standing up and telling the fossil fuel industry they will remain a key part of energy generation to provide ‘flexibility’ to consumers.

“Why does this Labour government talk about tough choices for those with the least, and not industry’s profiting from war and climate breakdown?”

Mr Mace added: “We need to transition our energy generation to carbon free generation as fast as possible to provide national security, hit our net zero targets and stop further climate breakdown.

“The best consumer flexibility is the one that allows them to choose where to spend their money, rather than being forced to pay for expensive and unreliable fossil fuels. Renewable energy does not get stuck in the Strait of Hormuz.”

Worcester Green Party has previously called for Worcester Bosch to produce heat pumps in Worcester to protect the jobs that currently produce 400,000 gas boilers a year in the city. Candidates and campaigners for the party will continue to work to address the cost of living crisis for all residents.

Worcester MP Tom Collins said:  “The government have set a goal to make the UK a clean energy superpower, have set up a sovereign wealth fund to invest in renewable energy and new infrastructure, and set up GB Energy so we can have more community energy projects (I’m looking at how we could do this in Worcester too by the way!).

 “I’m trying to get both government and industry to go faster and be more ambitious in decarbonisation. My message is that we need renewable gas (like hydrogen) as well as renewable electricity. It works for business, it works for ordinary people, and it will make our country more secure. We need solutions that give people more choices, rather than taking them away.”