Jeremy Corbyn plans 37 new wind farms for UK and Scotland

Jeremy Corbyn has praised wind power as "the future" after announcing plans to create 67,000 jobs and 37 new wind farms.

Labour's 10-year plan for a "green industrial revolution" will also bring regeneration funds to coastal towns, the party leader said.

The "crucial" wind farms will be built with a mix of public and private money, Mr Corbyn said, and will increase the UK's capacity for wind energy five-fold, providing energy for 57 million households.

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He made his comments on the third day of Extinction Rebellion climate change protests in London, adding: "The costs of wind turbines are coming down.

"They are the future. We need to increase the amount of wind generation."

The project, which Labour said will be worth £83 billion over 10 years, will see 20 per cent of its public profits pumped into coastal regeneration.

The funds, estimated at between £600 million and £1bn a year, will be spent on projects decided by the communities.

A child overlooks Whiteless Wind Farm near GlasgowA child overlooks Whiteless Wind Farm near Glasgow
A child overlooks Whiteless Wind Farm near Glasgow

"The local community will decide how it's spent.

"A library, a park, a youth centre, a nursery.

"People in small towns usually know what's best for them."

However, the Conservatives have criticised Labour's plans and said the party would risk jobs.

Energy minister Kwasi Kwarteng said: "Even Labour's own supporters have described their plan as 'utterly unachievable', showing how Corbyn would risk jobs across the country.

"Why would any investor put money into a nationalised wind farm?"