Sarah Champion MP changes the law on modern slavery
Following months of campaigning, Sarah Champion, Member of Parliament for Rotherham, has secured a groundbreaking change in the law, which will protect victims of modern slavery around the world.
Labour’s publicly owned Great British Energy company has banned renewables tainted by human rights abuses, following sustained pressure from Champion. This will prevent public money from being spent on slave-made solar panels in Xinjiang, China.
The Government’s amendment to the GBE Bill, voted in the Commons today, was inspired by an amendment Sarah tabled back in October 2024, which sought to make human rights a core focus in Labour’s clean energy mission. [1] Sarah has been working with Ministers ever since, to secure a change in law and practice that would protect the world’s most vulnerable. [2]
The cross-party campaign was carried out in partnership with charities, unions and survivors, including; Anti-Slavery International, Unison the Union, the Coalition to End Forced Labour in the Uyghur Region and Stop Uyghur Genocide.
Commenting Sarah Champion MP, said:
“I am delighted that the Government has listened and acted on our long-fought campaign. This change in law will not only support the UK in a just-transition to net-zero, but will reduce our dependency on rogue actors who flood the global market with slave-made renewables.
For too long, the UKs modern slavery laws have been unambitious and out of date, making us the world’s dumping ground for forced labour goods. I am relieved that the Government has now sent a clear message that our quest for net zero will not be achieved on the backs of those in slavery.
I am hugely grateful to the charities, survivors and unions, who worked tirelessly to make this possible.”
Commenting, Sian Lea, Business and Human Rights Manager at Anti-Slavery International, said:
“Since the beginning, we have advocated for the Great British Energy Bill to mandate the eradication of modern slavery from the company’s supply chains.
We are pleased that the UK Government is taking steps to ensure that Great British Energy will address forced labour in its supply chains. It’s a great place to start, but we have to go further. We continue to encourage the Government to introduce legislation that will cover all industries.
Overarching Mandatory Human Rights and Environmental Due Diligence legislation would support GB Energy in delivering a just transition as well as tackling forced labour in all sectors.”
ENDS
Notes to Editors:
[1] https://bills.parliament.uk/bills/3738/stages/19007/amendments/10015289