Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch will today launch a “Get Britain Drilling” campaign, calling for the UK to maximise domestic oil and gas production as global energy prices rise.
She is expected to visit an offshore oil rig near Aberdeen to share her party’s three-point plan, which includes ending the moratorium on new oil and gas exploration, scrapping the windfall tax, and increasing support for the industry.
The move follows disruption to global supply after Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, which has pushed up oil prices. The Conservatives argue increasing domestic production would improve energy security and help ease costs.
Launching the campaign, Badenoch 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.”
Further announcements from the Conservatives are expected later this week.
Michael Shanks, Labour’s Energy Minister, said: “The Conservatives and Reform want to outsource Britain’s energy security to fossil fuel markets over which we have no control.
"Meanwhile Labour is bringing down bills next week and investing in clean, homegrown power to bring bills down for good.”
Elsewhere today, Sir Keir Starmer will hold talks with Britain’s largest energy suppliers amid growing warnings of fuel shortages.
The prime minister will meet senior executives from Shell, BP and the Norwegian energy company Equinor as the government draws up contingency plans to cope with the shortage of jet fuel and diesel that is expected in the coming weeks.
At the same time Rachel Reeves will use a meeting of G7 finance ministers to warn against the risk of global “protectionism” as countries ban fuel exports to protect their own supplies, exacerbating the global energy crunch.