Virtue-signalling Burnham boasts of wind farm increase as he jets off to COP local weather ‘speaking store’ in Turkey… however each different G7 chief skips summit

Andy Burnham boasted about Britain’s wind farm boom today ahead of jetting off to Turkey for a climate summit.

The virtue-signalling Prime Minister hailed a £12billion investment in two major projects off Norfolk’s coast as he prepares to head to the COP31 gathering.

But the sight of around 100,000 delegates massing for the UN talking shop will spark fresh complaints about hypocrisy. 

Mr Burnham is the only G7 leader going, with France‘s Emmanuel Macron, Italy‘s Giorgia Meloni and Canada‘s Mark Carney all skipping the summit. Donald Trump is not even sending officials after pulling out of the Paris Agreement. 

The premier’s trip to Antalya, where he will deliver a speech, comes despite mixed signals coming out of the Government over Net Zero policy.

De facto deputy PM Louise Haigh had been due to chair a Cabinet committee to water down EV targets today, but the meeting has been delayed until tomorrow amid concerns the move would leak and embarrass Mr Burnham.

Plans for the UK’s largest solar farm on Oxfordshire’s Blenheim Estate have also been blocked by ministers. 

But the Norfolk wind farms are still set to go ahead, with energy company RWE and investment firm KKR announcing funding for the Vanguard West and Vanguard East sites.

The financing includes £1billion from the state-owned National Wealth Fund.

The wind farms are set to deliver power by 2030, with construction set to begin early next year.

Mr Burnham said: ‘This major investment in UK renewables is a vote of confidence for building in Britain.

‘It is great news for billpayers because every turbine we put up is power under British control, not at the mercy of events on the other side of the world.

‘With coastal communities from Scotland to East Anglia powering Britain’s future, the places that host this energy benefit from the jobs and opportunities that it brings.

‘Our National Wealth Fund means that public investment is working alongside private capital to build homegrown energy and bring a return for the taxpayer. Because, for me, a clean energy future is one that brings down bills.’

RWE said the Vanguard projects represent one of the UK’s largest offshore wind developments, generating around 2.8 gigawatts – enough to supply three million homes.

The Government said the investment would support more than 2,400 jobs in the construction and operation phases.

RWE chief executive Markus Krebber said: ‘Together with KKR, we are delivering two of the UK’s largest offshore wind projects, strengthening domestic electricity generation and making an important contribution to the country’s long-term energy security.’

Meanwhile, SSE has announced the creation of 130 jobs in the latest stage of its Berwick Bank B wind farm project – 80 new SSE roles in Glasgow and 50 new Siemens Energy roles at Montrose Port.

SSE chose Siemens Energy as the preferred supplier for turbines and substation platforms for Berwick Bank B, around 38km (24 miles) off the Scottish coast in the outer Firth of Forth.

SSE chief executive Martin Pibworth said: ‘Berwick Bank B is a huge opportunity for the UK and, working with Siemens Energy, we’re backing those industrial capabilities while building the infrastructure needed for a more affordable and secure energy system.

‘And it’s a powerful and timely example as world leaders gather at COP31.

‘There is already a clear acknowledgement that clean electrification is the route to decarbonisation, greater energy security and sustainably lower bills.

‘We hope to see the ambition needed to turn that recognition into more investment like this.’

Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh said: ‘As the world gathers at COP31, Britain is leading from the front as a renewable energy powerhouse, turning the fight against climate change into a brighter future for British companies, industrial communities, and future generations.’