Conservatives declare 'oil and gas emergency' in North Sea

The north east of Scotland is “facing a growing oil and gas emergency”, Kemi Badenoch has said.  

During a visit to Aberdeen, the Conservative leader launched a joint campaign alongside colleagues in the Scottish Conservatives to "get Britain drilling again”.  

Badenoch warned that the offshore oil and gas sector “risks disappearing altogether” and would leave the UK “more reliant” on imported energy.  

She said: “By the end of Labour's first term in office, it's not inconceivable that Scotland's oil and gas sector will be at serious risk, with domestic production currently set to half by 2030.  

“That would be a shocking indictment of Labour's energy policy, and a dangerous act of economic self-sabotage.”

Badenoch has called on chancellor Rachel Reeves to scrap the Energy Profits Levy, which is set to run until March 2030, at the Budget later this month.  

She has also called on Keir Starmer to overrule net zero secretary Ed Miliband’s “moratorium” on granting new oil and gas licenses, which the Conservative leader says has damaged growth and productivity.  

Badenoch added: “Enough is enough. Keir Starmer must find the backbone to ditch Ed Miliband’s net zero fanaticism, which is forcing up bills and driving away industry.  

“Instead, the prime minister should do what our economy needs, scrap the Energy Profits Levy and end the moratorium on new licenses in the North Sea.  

“If the Labour government fails to act, we could be witness to the end of our domestic energy security as we know it.”  

Last month, the Conservatives outlined a plan to bring down household energy bills, which it says will cut electricity bills by 20 per cent or by £165 for families and provide further savings for businesses by scrapping net zero policies, including the carbon tax on electricity generation and the Renewable Obligation subsidy scheme.

Commenting on the calls from the Conservative leader, shadow Scotland secretary Andrew Bowie said: “Labour and the SNP are putting the economic livelihood of Scotland, and the economic security of the UK in serious danger.  

“We need secure and cheap energy for years to come, yet between the moratorium on new licences and the burdensome net zero mandates this industry is shedding jobs at alarming rates. This cannot continue.  

“Only the Conservatives have a clear plan to back our domestic energy industry - putting it front and centre in our plan to deliver a stronger economy.”