TORIES are promising to scrap Labour’s “stupid” ban on new oil and gas licences to get Britain drilling again.
They are also vowing to end the North Sea windfall tax which they say is blocking investment.
It was introduced by the last Conservative Government after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Leader Kemi Badenoch will visit an oil rig in Aberdeen tomorrow to launch her new campaign.
She 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.”
The MP for North West Essex said drilling our own oil and gas is crucial for national security and could help bring down bills.
“The real reason Labour are refusing new licences is that Ed Miliband is now running the government,” she blasted.
“We need to get Britain drilling. A strong economy relies on cheap, abundant energy.”
During Prime Minister’s Questions Sir Keir insisted he had no powers to grant new licences for drilling in the North Sea.
He said current laws prevented him from overruling his Energy Secretary Ed Miliband.
The PM said: “It’s absolutely clear that the quasi-judicial duty of the legislation rests with the Secretary of State.”
Michael Shanks, Labour’s Energy Minister, said: “Badenoch’s Conservative Party left families with rocketing energy bills – and they completely failed to deliver energy security across 14 years in power. Her own shadow energy secretary admitted that new licenses in the North Sea would not take a penny off bills.
“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.”
