Shadow Energy Secretary Lisa Nandy aims to “democratise” the energy sector.

Speaking today at the Labour party conference in Brighton, Ms Nandy said she is determined to work with local government to push “for a clean energy boom” and affordable energy prices.

She added: “The actions of this government have left the poorest households in Britain paying six times more of their disposable income on green taxes than the richest. This is a national scandal. But Conference, don’t let them tell us we can’t heat our homes and protect the environment.

“Of course we can, by minimising the costs of going green, sharing those costs fairly, and capturing the industrial benefits to improve the lives of working people.”

She highlighted some initiatives local governments have taken “bypassing the big six entirely” in Nottingham, Oldham and Cardiff.

The shadow Energy Secretary also criticised the government’s changes in energy policies which slashed subsidies for wind and solar projects.

She added: “The Tory manifesto promised to cut carbon emissions as cheaply as possible. But what have they done instead? Ruled out using more of the cheapest low-carbon power available to us, from wind farms, even where there is strong local support.”

“Pulled the rug out from under the British solar industry just at the moment that solar power is on the cusp of offering cheap, subsidy-free energy. Wasted billions on an energy efficiency plan that failed to insulate the homes of our pensioners and poorest families.”

The Shadow Energy Secretary believes the UK energy sector could be owned by “the people of our country drawing on inspiration from around the world”.