Ed Miliband is coming for your electric towel rail in Net Zero drive - as critics brand the move 'Soviet'

By SOPHIE CHURCH, POLITICAL REPORTER Published: 00:37, 13 June 2026 | Updated: 00:39, 13 June 2026 Ed Miliband is planning to limit the use of energy-intensive electric towel rails in his pursuit of reaching Net Zero – in a move critics have branded 'Soviet'. Underfloor heating, gas fires and storage heaters are also in the Energy Secretary's sights as he tries to cut Britain's carbon emissions. And Mr Miliband plans to introduce new energy efficiency requirements that will make it illegal for a third of 'space heating systems' to be sold. Temperature controls will become mandatory under the new regime, while some towel rails will only be allowed to be turned on for six hours a day. But the Energy Secretary – nicknamed 'Red Ed' – was yesterday pilloried for foisting these restrictions on the public. Shadow energy spokesman Claire Coutinho said the rules evidenced 'Soviet-level intrusion', with Britons' lives increasingly being 'dictated by Net Zero legislation'. She added: 'Ed Miliband wants to tell you how long your towel rail can be switched on. He's already decided how you are allowed to dry your pyjamas and now he wants to make it harder to have underfloor heating in your home.' And Richard Tice, the deputy leader of Reform UK, blamed Mr Miliband for making households 'cold and miserable' through the measures. Ed Miliband's latest Net Zero drive has been branded by critics as 'Soviet'  He said: 'Mad Miliband's latest Net Zero push to restrict underfloor heating and electric towel rails is utter madness. Even the Romans had underfloor heating. 'This Orwellian move could mean families in the 21st century having to limit the time they spend keeping their homes warm or drying their clothes.' But Labour believes that 'government intervention' can help crackdown on the 'unavoidable cost to society' by way of greenhouse emissions such products cause, according to reports last night. And it follows Mr Miliband banning the sale of condenser tumble dryers, forcing Brits to buy more expensive machines that take longer to dry clothes. Mr Miliband has been under pressure to drop his Net Zero push over fears it could add another £1billion to already soaring energy bills. Former energy minister Sir John Hayes urged Mr Miliband to drop the scheme and focus on bringing down bills, telling the Daily Mail 'we need a full rethink'. A Department for Energy Security and Net Zero spokesman said: 'Our reforms will save households money by improving the energy efficiency of underfloor heating, towel rails and storage heaters.' The comments below have not been moderated. The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook. You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook. Your details from Facebook will be used to provide you with tailored content, marketing and ads in line with our Privacy Policy.