, Labour's Shadow Energy Security and Net Zero
Secretary, responding to the NSTA's announcement of new
licences for oil and gas exploration and production, said:
"Labour will ensure a balanced transition in the North Sea- using
oil and gas for decades to come, and not issuing licences to
explore new fields as we accelerate to clean power, with a
resolute focus on cutting bills for families.
"The only way to deliver energy independence and cut energy bills
for good is to embrace homegrown clean power that we can build
and control in Britain.
"Instead of embracing clean power, is doubling down on the root
causes of Britain's energy weakness under thirteen years of the
Tories- our dependence on fossil fuels, and the dictators who
control those markets. As the Tory party chairman has admitted,
new oil and gas licenses won't take a penny off energy
bills.
"With GB Energy, only Labour has a plan to deliver energy
independence, making Britain a clean energy superpower, to cut
energy bills, deliver security for families and create good jobs
in our country."
Ends
Notes to editors
- MP tweeted in February 2022 that
it was a "myth" that extracting more North Sea gas lowers
prices. https://twitter.com/GregHands/status/1489308367541743622?t=vsNW7MCDovepB3aVLUT91Q&s=19
- The National Infrastructure Commission recently concluded that
moving the UK away from fossil fuels would enhance energy
security, commenting that "Reliance on fossil fuels means
exposure to geopolitical shocks that impact the price of these
internationally traded commodities".
https://nic.org.uk/studies-reports/national-infrastructure-assessment/second-nia/#tab-netzero
