Labour Crisis: Keir Starmer Warned North Sea Drilling Pivot Will 'Tear Party In Two'

Keir Starmer’s refusal to reverse Labour’s ban on new North Sea drilling has opened a fierce battle over energy security, climate credibility and the unity of his own party. (Credit: AFP News)

Keir Starmer is under mounting pressure in Westminster to reverse Labour's policy blocking new North Sea oil and gas drilling, with senior figures and critics warning that a U-turn on North Sea drilling would risk 'tearing the party in two' just months into his premiership.

Labour moved swiftly after the 2024 general election to impose an effective ban on new North Sea oil and gas licences, a decision driven by Energy Secretary Ed Miliband and sold as proof the government was serious about climate targets. The move delighted environmental campaigners and much of the party's activist base, but it alarmed industry figures, trade unions in energy-dependent regions and opponents who say the policy leaves the UK more exposed to global shocks.