Kemi Badenoch launches ‘Get Britain Drilling’ campaign amid global oil price surge
Kemi Badenoch is set to push for the UK to tap its domestic oil and gas reserves to protect UK households from rising energy costs amid the ongoing war in the Middle East.
The Conservative Party leader will launch the “Drill Britain” campaign on Monday as he calls for the UK to maximize the use of its resources.
As part of a three-phase plan to boost production, he will propose ending the moratorium on new oil and gas licenses, scrapping windfall taxes on energy profits and giving more financial support to the fossil fuel industry.
Ms Badenoch plans to visit an oil platform off Aberdeen on Monday to launch the campaign, as Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz continues to drive up oil prices around the world.
“Labour’s ban on new oil and gas drilling licenses was stupid when they put it in their manifesto; in the middle of an energy crisis, it was completely insane,” he said.
“Extracting our own oil and gas is about energy security, it’s about financial security, it’s about national security. It means more jobs, it’s good for business, and it generates tax revenues that can be used to lower bills.”
He added: “We must get Britain drilling. A strong economy depends on cheap, abundant energy.”
The Conservatives plan to unveil additional measures next week aimed at reducing both the cost of living and energy bills of businesses.
But Tessa Khan, chief executive of campaign group Uplift, described the announcements as “an empty, political game played at the expense of ordinary people” and said Ms Badenoch was “selling a dangerous fantasy”.
“Politicians who refuse to accept the fact that the North Sea is shrinking are endangering our security and economy,” he said.
“Not only that, but they are betraying workers who need long-term, secure jobs – jobs that will no longer come from a pipe dream but will only come from renewable sources.
“This is a vapid, political game played at the expense of ordinary people.”
At PMQs this week, Sir Keir Starmer insisted it was up to the Energy Secretary to decide whether to approve new drilling licenses in the North Sea, including the Rosebank and Jackdaw fields.
To which Ms Badenoch replied: “The real reason Labor is rejecting new licenses is because Ed Miliband is currently leading the government.”
But he faced criticism from the prime minister after initially calling on Britain to join America and Israel in their war against Iran.
The energy minister, Michael Shanks MP, accused Ms Badenoch of wanting to “push Britain headlong into war without a moment’s thought of the consequences”.
“He has proven throughout this crisis that he is completely unfit for high office,” he said.
“Badenoch’s Conservative Party has left families facing skyrocketing energy bills and has completely failed to deliver energy security during 14 years in power. Its own shadow energy minister has admitted new North Sea licenses would not save a penny on bills.”
“The Conservatives and Reform want to hand over Britain’s energy security to fossil fuel markets over which we have no control. Meanwhile, Labor is cutting bills next week and investing in clean, domestic energy to cut bills altogether.”
