Labour's biggest union backer has attacked the Government's net zero drive, warning it risks becoming a "political millstone" around the party's neck.
Unite the Union warned Labour cannot expect workers to support their net zero plan unless they can provide the jobs to back it up.
The criticism comes after former prime minister Tony Blair sparked controversy by claiming net zero strategies aimed at limiting fossil fuels are "doomed to fail".
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham warned the party "the time to act is now."
The union has hit out at the plans
PA
Graham said the union is "not against net zero" but warned it "will not be achieved without serious investment in new jobs".
She said: "Unite has warned time after time, that all the rhetoric about a joined up industrial strategy and future jobs must be backed up with serious investment that actually delivers. What is Labour waiting for? The time to act is now.
"If they fail to do this, then Labour cannot expect workers to support their Net Zero plan."
In a report for the Tony Blair Institute, the former Labour leader said politics were driving voters away from net zero confidence. Blair argued that people were being asked to make "financial sacrifices and changes in lifestyle" despite their "minimal" impact on global emissions.
"These are the inconvenient facts, which mean that any strategy based on either 'phasing out' fossil fuels in the short term or limiting consumption is a strategy doomed to fail," Blair wrote.
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Former Prime Minister Sir Tony Blair
PABlair's comments prompted a swift clarification from his own institute, which issued a statement saying: "The report is clear that we support the Government's 2050 net zero targets."
The statement appeared to be an attempt to deflect criticism from Sir Keir Starmer, despite the report being widely viewed as a criticism of Energy Secretary Ed Miliband's push for net zero.
Environment Secretary Steve Reed backed Blair's intervention, telling Times Radio he was "making a valid and important contribution to a very significant debate".
Reed told GB News the intervention was "helpful", adding: "You have to be pragmatic with these things. We have to manage the transition in a way that people and the economy can go along with it."
WATCH: Steve Reed MP responds to Sir Tony Blair calling for a 'radical reset' of Sir Keir Starmer's green plan.
The GMB union has also criticised the Government's energy policy as "bonkers", with General Secretary Gary Smith describing it as "absolute madness" to cut investment in North Sea oil and gas.
Conservative energy spokesman Andrew Bowie said: "No amount of contrived backtracking can cover for the fact that Tony Blair clearly thinks the Labour Party's approach to Net Zero is causing hardship for the British people."
Downing Street said the Prime Minister has "absolute" confidence in Energy Secretary Ed Miliband, calling him "fantastic".
However, when pressed on whether Miliband would remain in post for the rest of Parliament, the spokesman refused to confirm it.
"The PM absolutely backs the Energy Secretary. He does a great job in winning the global race for the jobs of the future," the spokesman added.
