Shadow Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero

Shadow Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero
since 8 July 2024
AppointerLeader of the Opposition
Inaugural holderPatrick Jenkin
Formation18 February 1975
WebsiteThe Shadow Cabinet

The Shadow Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero is a post in the Official Opposition Shadow Cabinet. The shadow secretary originally helped hold the secretary of state for energy and climate change and junior ministers to account and is the lead spokesperson on energy and climate change issues for their party. The post currently holds the secretary of state for energy security and net zero to account in Parliament.

A previous Official Opposition post of shadow secretary of state for energy existed until the Department of Energy was merged into the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in 1992. In 2008, the Department for Energy and Climate Change was split from the DTI's successor department, effectively reviving the former department and the need for an Opposition shadow.

Following Theresa May's appointment as Prime Minister in July 2016, the department was disbanded and merged with the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills to form the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with the consequent ending of this shadow post.

It was revived during the Shadow Cabinet of Keir Starmer and given to Ed Miliband, the former Labour leader, who was then serving as Shadow Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy before his appointment.

Shadow Secretary of State for Energy (1974–1992)

Name Took office Left office Political party Leader of the Opposition
Patrick Jenkin 18 February 1975 15 January 1976 Conservative Margaret Thatcher
John Biffen 15 January 1976 19 November 1976
Tom King 19 November 1976 4 May 1979
Tony Benn 4 May 1979 14 July 1979 Labour James Callaghan
David Owen 14 July 1979 4 November 1980
Merlyn Rees 4 November 1980 24 November 1982 Michael Foot
John Smith 24 November 1982 2 October 1983
Stan Orme 2 October 1983 13 July 1987 Neil Kinnock
John Prescott 13 July 1987 23 November 1988
Tony Blair 23 November 1988 2 November 1989
Frank Dobson 2 November 1989 18 July 1992

Shadow Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change (2008–2016)

Name Took office Left office Political party Leader of the Opposition
Greg Clark 6 October 2008 11 May 2010 Conservative David Cameron
Ed Miliband 11 May 2010 8 October 2010 Labour Harriet Harman
Meg Hillier 8 October 2010 7 October 2011 Ed Miliband
Caroline Flint 7 October 2011 14 September 2015
Harriet Harman
Lisa Nandy 14 September 2015 27 June 2016 Jeremy Corbyn
Barry Gardiner 27 June 2016 8 October 2016

Shadow Secretary of State for Climate Change and Net Zero (2021-2023)

Name Took office Left office Political party Leader of the Opposition
Ed Miliband 29 November 2021 5 July 2024 Labour Keir Starmer

Shadow Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero (2023-present)

Name Took office Left office Political party Leader of the Opposition
Ed Miliband 29 November 2021 5 July 2024 Labour Keir Starmer
Claire Coutinho 8 July 2024 Incumbent Conservative Rishi Sunak

See also