Net Zero Secretary Ed Miliband has vowed to "take on the blockers, the delayers, the obstructionists" to build clean energy infrastructure.

Speaking at a conference in London, he said the renewable energy transition is the "economic justice, energy security and national security fight of our time".

He said switching to clean energy is not just about climate change, but that "dependence on fossil fuels leaves us deeply vulnerable as a country, and the Government's view is that we simply can't go on like this".

It comes weeks before energy bills are due to get more expensive again this winter, partly as a result of rising gas prices.

Regulator Ofgem said the average household bill is set to increase by £149 from October after it increased the quarterly price cap for the winter months.

The Government has faced criticism for recent cuts to winter fuel payments for pensioners.

Under plans announced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves in July, winter fuel payments will be restricted to those receiving pension credit, meaning around 10 million people will lose out this winter. About 11.5 million people used to receive the benefit.

Mr Miliband did not address the controversy, but said that as long as the UK is "stuck on the rollercoaster of volatile international markets" the country "simply won't have control of our energy bills".

"Cheap, clean" renewable energy, meanwhile, will help "offer us price stability", he added.

Mr Miliband's comments also come against a backdrop of fast-growing demands on Britain's electricity network as it transitions to renewables.

The Labour Government has already introduced a swathe of changes since the general election, including forming a new state energy investment firm, GB Energy, to help boost renewables in recent months.

It is also consulting on reforms to the planning system designed to make it easier to upgrade the power grid and build clean energy projects.

He said: "Previous governments have ducked, dithered and delayed these difficult decisions... it's the poorest in our society who have paid the price."

Mr Miliband added that "the faster we go, the more secure we become" on developing clean energy generation.

"Every wind turbine we put up, every solar panel we install, every piece of grid we construct helps protect families from future energy shocks," he said.