Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Daily Record
Daily Record
Politics
Chris McCall

Labour set to ban new North Sea oil and gas developments in race to net zero

Labour will reportedly ban new oil and gas developments in the North Sea if Keir Starmer becomes the next Prime Minister.

The party leader is set to make the announcement when he visits Scotland next month to set out his net zero energy policy.

The move would be significant as North Sea exploration licenses are reserved to the UK Government.

Nicola Sturgeon previously signalled the Scottish Government would oppose new developments in the sector in favour of more investment in renewables.

A Starmer-led government at Westminster would only borrow to invest in green enterprises.

Labour expects its plans to create up to half a million jobs in the renewables industry, including 50,000 in Scotland.

A Labour source told the Sunday Times: “We are against the granting of new licences for oil and gas in the North Sea.

“They will do nothing to cut bills, as the Tories have acknowledged.

“They undermine our energy security and would drive a coach and horse through our climate targets.

“But Labour would continue to use existing oil and gas wells over the coming decades and manage them sustainably as we transform the UK into a clean energy superpower.”

In its draft energy strategy published in January, the Scottish Government said there “should be a presumption against new exploration for oil and gas”, as it proposed making the “fastest possible just transition”.

But Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has backed new oil and gas exploration, and energy licences are under Westminster’s control.

The North Sea Transition Authority has recently held a licensing round for oil and gas exploration projects which attracted more than 100 bids.

Two oil fields, Cambo and Jackdaw, have been given licences.

Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross said: “First it was the SNP, now Labour want to abandon the north east and the thousands of jobs that support North Sea oil and gas.

“Only the Scottish Conservatives will stand up for the area and those employed in our oil and gas sector.”

To sign up to the Daily Record Politics newsletter, click here .

READ NEXT:

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.