A new polling by YouGov for the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU) has found many MPs are at odds with the British public over the shape of the UK’s energy security and MPs also significantly underestimate support for solar and wind farms.

The poll found almost two-thirds (62 per cent) of the public believe the best way to achieve energy security is to reduce the use of fossil fuels and instead expand the use of renewable energy. Less than a fifth (19 per cent) of the public believe the solution should be new oil and gas exploration licences.

But less than half of MPs (48 per cent) believe renewables will provide more energy security than fossil fuels, which rather begs question of whether the MPs are better informed or wrong.

Only a quarter (25 per cent) of MPs thought more of their constituents would support rather than oppose a solar farm. In reality, around three-quarters (76 per cent) of the public said they would support one in their local area. Likewise, half (50 per cent) of MPs think more of their constituents would oppose an onshore wind farm than support it whereas in fact three-quarters (75 per cent) of the public say they would support a new onshore wind farm in their area. Two thirds of the public also say they would support new pylons to transmit electricity (63 per cent).

Commenting on the findings, Alasdair Johnstone at the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit, noted that on perhaps the most vital issue there is alignment: “One area where MPs and the public agree is the importance of reaching net-zero emissions with more than two-thirds of voters and politicians backing the target.”

The net zero target is the one unifying target with more than two-thirds (69 per cent) of the public backing the Conservatives’ 2050 target. Three-quarters of MPs 76 per cent support the target. However, both the public and MPs underestimate each other’s support for net-zero. On average, the public thought only half of MPs were supportive of net-zero.

On the economy the public ranked renewable energy and clean technology as the top growth sector, backed by 44 per cent of those polled, followed by AI (39 per cent) and financial services (15 per cent). MPs ranked AI top with 45 per cent of MPs listing it with clean tech second on 43 per cent.

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