Kemi Badenoch tears into Keir Starmer and Ed Miliband over North Sea | Politics | News

He insisted it was “not rocket science” and that the Prime Minister and the Energy Secretary needed to “get a handle on” Brits’ rising prices. Ms Badenoch told LBC: “A lot of people don’t know that most of your bills don’t come from the wholesaler or the energy company, it’s actually the Government that puts a lot of tax on it.

“We think these taxes should be abolished. In my view, they are being used to subsidize things that don’t need subsidies.

“Why don’t we reduce your bills by drilling in the North Sea? It’s not rocket science but Labor doesn’t seem to want to even think about it.

“It’s important for our energy security, our financial security, our national security.”

He continued: “Instead, they want to increase the fuel tax in September. They tell people that we extended the tariff for 5 months, froze it for 14 years, or even cut it in 2022.”

“So there’s a lot that can be done. People out there are struggling. I’m very concerned about the cost of filling up my car. I’m very concerned about the cost of living for my constituents.

Turning to other countries, he said: “Australia has a left-wing government. Australia is cutting fuel duty, Norway’s labor government is drilling in the North Sea, our guys are sitting around doing nothing or making it worse by increasing fuel duty in September.”

The Conservatives and the Reform Party have called on Labor to cancel a planned fuel tax increase amid conflict in the Middle East.

Iran’s ongoing blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has disrupted a vital shipping route for the oil and gas industry, sending prices soaring.