Labour facing defeat in vote to ban green energy investments tied to Xinjiang slavery Cross-party backing likely for amendment to GB Energy bill aiming to block solar panels made by Uyghur forced labour.
Sarah Champion, the Labour MP and chair of the international development committee, proposed an amendment in the Commons in October to make respect for human rights one of the core objects of GB Energy.
China dominates the solar energy market and between 35% and 40% of polysilicon, the key raw material for solar panels, is produced in Xinjiang where the Muslim Uyghur population has been subject to arbitrary detention and forced labour.
The amendment seeks to stop public money from being spent by GB Energy on solar panels and other materials where there is “credible evidence of modern slavery” in supply chains.
“This can be best achieved through a forced labour import ban, like the Uyghur Forced Labour Prevention Act in the United States.
