Britain faces oil and gas emergency amid Net Zero push, warns Kemi Badenoch
Britain is confronting an “oil and gas emergency” attributed to Labour’s Net Zero agenda, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch warned. In remarks made during a visit to Aberdeen, she emphasized that the country’s reliance on energy imports is growing due to stringent green regulations, reports BritPanorama.
Badenoch’s comments come as Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer attends the UN COP climate summit in Brazil. She asserted that these green policies risk decimating the national oil and gas sector, endangering jobs across Scotland. She called on Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to rescind the Energy Profits Levy and lift the moratorium on new drilling licenses in the upcoming Budget.
The Conservative leader stated, “Scotland, and the whole United Kingdom, faces a growing oil and gas emergency thanks to Labour’s inability to put our national interest first,” adding, “Enough is enough.” Badenoch urged Starmer to abandon what she described as Ed Miliband’s “Net Zero fanaticism,” which she claims is elevating energy costs and pushing industry away.
Shadow Scotland Secretary Andrew Bowie echoed her concerns, arguing that Labour and the Scottish National Party (SNP) are jeopardising Scotland’s economic future. He noted that the existing moratorium and the demands imposed by Net Zero are resulting in significant job losses within the energy sector. “This cannot continue,” Bowie declared.
Last month, the Conservative Party promised to reduce electricity bills by 20 percent, or £165, by repealing certain Net Zero policies. In contrast, Miliband has proposed a £100 Boiler Tax on households, advocating for the transition to more expensive heat pumps as part of Labour’s Clean Power 2030 objective, which hinges on a near-total phase-out of gas power.
The Climate Change Committee has suggested transferring green costs from electricity bills to gas bills, which would likely increase the financial burden on families managing heating expenses. This ongoing debate illustrates the tensions between energy policy, economic viability, and environmental commitments in the UK’s current political landscape.
The dynamics of UK energy policy remain complex, with pressing questions about balancing economic stability against climate commitments. As discussions unfold, the implications for both consumers and the energy sector will continue to demand careful scrutiny.
