Streeting backs new North Sea drilling and says he would increase high-skilled immigration if he becomes PM

Wes Streeting has given further details about his vision for the government, saying it would invite 20,000 of the world’s leading scientists to Britain and funnel tax money from new North Sea oil licenses into cheaper energy projects.

The former health secretary, seen as a likely rival to Sir Keir Starmer in any leadership contest, argued that opponents of new drilling would open the door to a Reform UK government by keeping energy costs high and losing support for net zero.

Mr Streeting has previously backed the granting of new oil drilling licenses for the North Sea and said the government should allow production to begin at the Jackdaw gas field and the Rosebank oil and gas field.

The Ilford North MP said if he wins the keys to number 10 he will use tax revenues from the two new sites to fund new heat pumps, home insulation, batteries and other electrification projects that reduce home or business energy bills and reduce carbon emissions.

Mr Streeting, who will give a speech next week to lay out policy ahead of a potential leadership contest widely anticipated in Westminster in the coming months, also said he would ease immigration restrictions as part of a £250 million global talent program to attract “tomorrow’s Nobel Prize winners” to the UK.

His latest intervention comes as Sir Keir Starmer finds himself in a moment of grave peril after the defense secretary John Healey dramatically resigned last week in a row over funding.

Mr Streeting resigned as health secretary in May in protest at Sir Keir’s premiership, which has appeared unstable since Labor’s defeat in May’s local and devolved elections.

He has made it clear he will enter any contest that may be triggered if Andy Burnham is successful in his bid to return to Westminster in next week’s Makerfield by-election.

The Labor leadership hopeful said: “Businesses and households are being left behind by high energy costs. Tax revenues from new oil and gas fields in the North Sea should be channeled into cheaper energy: insulation, heat pumps and electrification to reduce bills and emissions.”

“Opponents of the North Sea say it sets the wrong example to the world. But the worst example we can set is that net zero can only be achieved through the jobs of the poor and working people. This is the route to Nigel Farage walking into Downing Street and destroying our renewable energy industry.”

“The best example we can give is to show that net-zero emissions and growth agendas are not in competition. We can reduce bills and reduce emissions at the same time.”

The former health secretary also said he would seek to capitalize on what he described as Donald Trump’s hostility to science in the US and attract 20,000 high achievers to the UK over the next three years.

“We must open our doors to the best and the brightest,” he said. “Trump says this to the world’s leading scientists, engineers and artificial intelligence experts: You are not welcome here. And I would tell them: We will welcome you with open arms.

“I would launch a Global Talent Program that would actively recruit 20,000 of the world’s best scientists, engineers and artificial intelligence experts to our country.

“They are building the future and I want them to build it here. Voters who want lower levels of immigration are not averse to inviting tomorrow’s Nobel Prize winners to make their discoveries here in Britain.”

His last words came after he said: Guard Sir Keir must take urgent action against

Mr Streeting condemned what he called “the forces of darkness online and offline” and called for Downing Street to go further in its response to the disorder.

“The time for threats is long past us. We must act. Inciting violence is a crime in the offline world, so it should also be prosecuted as a crime in the online world.” he said.

“If platforms are knowingly promoting this dangerous content, bosses should face criminal action and companies should be made to pay the cost of cleaning up and rebuilding Belfast, along with thugs on the ground.

“We have been too timid in the face of brothers who seek to reshape our society and stir up hatred; we must and still can stand up to the forces of darkness online and offline.”