Kemi Badenoch launches new Conservative Party campaign: Get Britain Drilling
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Today [Sunday 29th March 2026], Kemi Badenoch has launched a
new campaign to support the British economy, at a time of growing
pressures on the cost of living, and strengthen the UK's energy
security by maximising domestic oil and gas production in the North
Sea called ‘Get Britain Drilling'. The campaign, backed by a
digital advertising campaign [advert is attached to this press
release], features the Conservative Party's 3-point plan to ‘Get
Britain Drilling':...Request free trial
Today [Sunday 29th March 2026], Kemi Badenoch has launched a new campaign to support the British economy, at a time of growing pressures on the cost of living, and strengthen the UK's energy security by maximising domestic oil and gas production in the North Sea called ‘Get Britain Drilling'. The campaign, backed by a digital advertising campaign [advert is attached to this press release], features the Conservative Party's 3-point plan to ‘Get Britain Drilling':
Kemi Badenoch is set to visit an oil rig in Aberdeen on Monday as part of this campaign and further measures will be announced this week as the Conservative Party builds on its plan to bring down both household and business energy bills. The ‘Get Britain Drilling' campaign builds on existing Conservative Party plans to cut energy costs by scrapping green levies and taxes that push up bills, including the Renewable Obligations Certificate and the Carbon Tax. But bringing bills down in a lasting way means using the resources we already have, starting with the North Sea. As global instability drives up prices and Labour doubles down on its Net Zero targets, the Conservatives are setting out a clear alternative focused on cheap, reliable energy and economic strength. Labour promised to cut household energy bills by £300, but bills have risen by £73 since taking office and they are set to increase further because of Ed Miliband's Clean Power 2030 target. At the same time, Britain is being pushed towards greater reliance on imported energy, leaving households exposed to global price shocks. The UK has already halved its emissions since 1990, reducing emissions by more than any other major economy. But global emissions are rising and countries like China are not following our lead. Continuing down this path of higher energy bills, job losses, and lower economic growth will make us a warning, not an example, to the rest of the world. We must put cheap, reliable energy and a stronger economy first. The North Sea remains one of the country's greatest strategic assets. Oil and Gas exploration in the North Sea supports 200,000 skilled jobs across the UK and generates billions in tax revenue. Without action to safeguard our Energy Security the UK could be importing as much as 82 per cent of its gas by 2035, leaving billpayers vulnerable to shifts in oil price. Major projects such as Rosebank and Jackdaw, both at advanced stages and capable of delivering energy within months, remain stalled as Labour refuse to act. Other projects, including Cambo, are effectively frozen, leaving the UK increasingly unattractive to investment. At a time of global instability, including conflict in the Middle East, strengthening domestic energy production is central to delivering a stronger economy and a more secure country. This is all the more important with reports of possible further supply and price shocks, including threats to curtail transAtlantic LNG shipments. The Conservative Party will prioritise maximising North Sea production, protecting jobs, reducing reliance on imports, and ensuring Britain uses its own resources to meet its energy needs. Kemi Badenoch MP, Leader of the Conservative Party, said: “Labour's ban on new oil and gas drilling licences was stupid when they put it in their manifesto, in the middle of an energy crisis it's completely crazy. “Drilling our own oil and gas is about energy security, it's about financial security, it's about national security. It's more jobs, good for business and provides tax revenues that could be used to bring down bills. “But Keir Starmer let the cat out of the bag at PMQs. The real reason Labour are refusing new licences is that Ed Miliband is now running the government. “We need to get Britain drilling. A strong economy relies on cheap, abundant energy. Only the Conservatives are serious about creating a stronger economy and a stronger country.” ENDS Notes to Editors: Labour are shutting down the North Sea, despite it providing tens of thousands of jobs and billions in tax:
o Jackdaw and Rosebank fields have been delayed – they would have provided enough fuel to heat 1.6 million homes. Rosebank is the largest known undeveloped oil and gas field in UK waters and is estimated to contain between 300 million and 500 million barrels of oil. Jackdaw was expected to produce 6.5 per cent of the UK's gas production and provide enough fuel to heat 1.6 million homes (The Sun, 19 March 2026, link). o Analysis by Offshore Energy UK (OEUK) and Westwood Global Energy Group found that £165 billion in economic value can still be produced from North Sea oil and gas. The analysis found the UK could meet half of its oil and gas needs from the North Sea with potentially 7.5 billion barrels of oil and gas able to be produced from UK waters – 3.2 billion more than current estimates. This could add £165 billion in economic value (OEUK, Press Release, 23 June 2025, link).
Both gas and electricity bills are increasing under Labour:
Energy executives, leaders in renewables and the GB Energy Chair has called for more drilling:
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