Union bosses warn Sir Keir Starmer against plans to ban new North Sea oil projects
UNION bosses have warned Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer against making the mistake of putting “all the nation’s eggs in one energy basket”.
They are increasing the pressure on him over his plans to ban new North Sea oil projects.
GMB chief Gary Smith said the UK needs “plans not bans” to save jobs, saying the country requires a mix of energy sources including nuclear, renewables and hydrogen.
Sir Keir tried to calm tensions on a visit to the Hinkley Point C nuclear project in Somerset, saying oil and gas would be part of the UK’s energy mix for “many, many years to come”.
He has been accused of drawing up “naive” plans to ban new licences for oil and gas extraction in the North Sea.
He will address the GMB conference today saying Labour will next week set out its mission for the country to become a clean energy superpower.
But Mr Smith, speaking at his union’s annual conference in Brighton, said: “We have to fix and secure our energy supply if we are to face down threats from authoritarian regimes in the world and find a workable way to achieve net zero.
“But our future requires a mix of energy sources — new nuclear, renewables, hydrogen, and oil and gas. It would be a huge mistake to put all the nation’s eggs in one energy basket.”
A Cabinet source called Labour’s energy plans “stark raving bonkers”.
They said it could increase carbon emissions and threaten energy security as the UK would become more reliant on imports.
Offshore Energies UK, which represents North Sea oil and gas companies, calls the plans simplistic and wants the party to “listen to the industry”.
The sector fears the policy will create a cliff edge and wants Sir Keir to make a U-turn.