The Labour party plans to push energy efficiency as a national priority and scrap the beleaguered insulation scheme, the Green Deal, if it wins the next election.

Shadow Energy Secretary Caroline Flint will reportedly announce the plans in a speech at Labour’s annual conference in Manchester today.

She will pledge to insulate five million draughty homes over a decade and offer one million interest-free loans for DIY improvements during the next Parliament, reported the Guardian.

Free home energy reports assessing the efficiency of houses will be offered too, reported BusinessGreen.

The UK Green Building Council welcomed the spotlight turning towards efficiency.

John Alker, Director of Policy and Communications said: “Labour is spot on in recognising that energy efficiency needs to be classed as a long-term national infrastructure priority. The UK is currently in the midst of an energy bill crisis and improving our draughty and leaky homes is the only way to permanently tackle this.”

He expected the Labour party will emphasise mandatory minimum standards in the private rented sector.