Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has been criticized for "peddling a dangerous fantasy" by Tessa Khan, executive director of the campaign group Uplift. The criticism followed Badenoch's announcement of a "Get Britain Drilling" campaign intended to tackle rising energy prices linked to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

 

Badenoch criticised for ‘peddling dangerous fantasy’ about North Sea oil drilling

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has been criticized for "peddling a dangerous fantasy" by Tessa Khan, executive director of the campaign group Uplift. The criticism followed Badenoch's announcement of a "Get Britain Drilling" campaign intended to tackle rising energy prices linked to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

 

Context of the Controversy

The "dangerous fantasy" remark refers to Badenoch's claim that increasing North Sea oil and gas production would significantly lower household energy bills.

 

The Criticism: Tessa Khan argued that new licences would do nothing to lower bills because oil and gas from the North Sea are sold at internationally set prices. She pointed to research showing that hundreds of previous licences produced only 36 days' worth of gas, calling the focus on the declining North Sea a betrayal of workers who need secure jobs in renewables.

 

Badenoch’s Plan: Her three-point plan, launched during a visit to an oil rig off Aberdeen, includes:

Ending the moratorium on new oil and gas licences.

Scrapping the windfall tax on energy profits.

Providing more financial support for the fossil fuel industry.

 

Government and Political Response

Michael Shanks (Energy Minister): Branded Badenoch "unfit for high office" and accused her of wanting to "plunge Britain headfirst into war" without considering the consequences, referring to her earlier calls for the UK to join the US and Israel in the conflict with Iran.

Sir Keir Starmer: During Prime Minister's Questions, Starmer insisted that decisions on new licences like Rosebank and Jackdaw rest with Energy Secretary Ed Miliband. He argued that the only way to control energy prices is through accelerated investment in renewables.

Counter-Arguments: Badenoch has cited support from some unions (GMB), industry figures, and even some Labour MPs like Henry Tufnell, who called for a reversal of the drilling ban to protect energy security.