Dame Mary Archer has been sacked from her role on the board of Ed Miliband’s net zero department, sparking claims that dissent is being silenced at the top of government.
The surprise dismissal came last Friday, when the 80-year-old was summoned to the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) and told her services were no longer required.
Appointed in February 2024 by then-Conservative energy secretary Claire Coutinho, Dame Mary was widely respected for her expertise in solar energy. Her removal, however, has fuelled speculation that her views on net zero clashed with those of the Labour frontbench — particularly Ed Miliband.
Just days before her sacking, Sir Tony Blair had warned the government’s net zero plans were “doomed to fail”. Allies say Dame Mary broadly shares that view.
“She reports to Mr Miliband and attends departmental board meetings chaired by him,” a source told national newspapers adding, “The timing was no coincidence.”
Sir Christopher Chope MP said: “Clearly they are not interested in listening to people on their board who may have a different point of view.”
He added: “The attitude of the Secretary of State seems to be to double down and resist all criticism or comments from people who have an alternative viewpoint, and this has just added to the challenge of holding the Government to account on these policies.”
Scientifically illiterate
Ex-SoS Coutinho, who brought Dame Mary into DESNZ, called her removal “a huge shame” and accused the department of pushing “scientifically illiterate” claims. “If anything, Ed needs to bring more scientists like Dame Mary into his team,” she said.
The government insists the move was part of a “wider board refresh” to reflect the Prime Minister’s goal of making the UK a “clean energy superpower”.
A spokesperson added: “The Secretary of State thanks Dame Mary for her work as a member of the board.”
But her supporters see a pattern. In October, Dame Mary was blocked from chairing London’s Royal Parks — another move widely criticised by MPs.
Now, her abrupt departure from DESNZ has reignited questions about whether Miliband’s team is open to scientific challenge or simply steamrolling ahead.
As one insider put it: “This isn’t about politics. It’s about expertise being pushed aside when it doesn’t fit the narrative.”
