RISHI Sunak has been urged to ban new oil and gas developments in the North Sea after he reversed Tory plans to give a green light to fracking.
During her brief spell in office, his predecessor Liz Truss provoked a storm of controversy after announcing she would effectively lift a ban on the process - which was introduced over concerns about earth tremors - as part of her plans to address the energy crisis.
However the Scottish Government, which is responsible for issuing licences, said its policy against fracking would not change.
The new Prime Minister has now told the House of Commons that he “stands by” a ban on fracking set out in his party's 2019 general election manifesto, unless the science show categorically it can be done safely.
Scottish Greens co-leader Lorna Slater is urging Sunak to go further and to also scrap plans by Truss to ramp up drilling in the North Sea.
She said: “Rishi Sunak can be remembered as the Prime Minister who scrapped oil and gas exploration in the UK, or just another climate denying Tory politician who put profit before people and the planet.
“He now has the power to do the right thing. He can put an end to future exploration and drilling in the North Sea and impose a meaningful windfall tax on those already making massive profits, unlike his previous iteration which actually encouraged more drilling.
“By doing this he can help to accelerate a just transition.”
Slater said Sunak also has a “moral imperative” to act to save people from soaring energy prices.
She added: “Millions of people are stuck in an energy crisis, bills are soaring and he could put a stop to this agony now by making the energy companies pay.
“We have the skills and technology to lead on renewable energy, yet ordinary homes and businesses are the ones being left to pick up the bill for an economic failure of which he was one of the main architects.
“He has a moral imperative to do the right thing. His first 100 days of government - which will take in Cop 27 - must focus not on Tory infighting, but on the good of all.”
