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.

Read more: Ed Miliband is coming for your electric towel rail in Net Zero drive – as critics brand the move ‘Soviet’