North Sea gas is vital to free country from ‘malign’ Putin

THE UK must make the most of its North Sea gas to be free from the “malign interference” of despots such as Vladimir Putin, the Energy Secretary has declared.

Kwasi Kwarteng said “fringe eco groups” wanting an end to home oil and gas production “have absolutely zero idea what they’re talking about”. He added Britain needs to be realistic about energy needs.

His view was supported by a poll from London market researchers Redfield & Wilton Strategies, which found 52 per cent of people back “maximising” fossil fuels until the UK is powered by renewables.

Writing in the Sunday Express, Mr Kwarteng said: “Switching off our North Sea – like some fringe eco groups are calling for – simply increases foreign imports. Shutting down this vital British industry doesn’t reduce demand, and we’ll need oil and gas for decades.”

Underscoring the need to use UK energy to strike a blow against

Putin, he said: “We need to harness our own rich wealth of natural resources, to protect ourselves from his malign influence.”

The Government has unveiled an energy strategy with ambitions for up to eight more nuclear reactors and extra offshore wind farms – but the pressure is on to cut bills now.

There is deep unease in Tory circles on how living costs may affect the party at the next election.

One backbencher described UK energy policy as “50 years of failure. We’ve closed all our pits. We’re reluctant to get gas and oil out of the North Sea...then we’re scratching our heads wondering why are our gas bills are so expensive.

“Come the next election, if people feel worse off than they did in 2019 then they will look to punish us. It’s as simple as that.”

Hardships facing families may be fuelling pessimism about the life chances of younger generations.

The poll also asked if “children of today live in a better United Kingdom with a more optimistic

future than the one their parents grew up in”. Nearly two thirds of respondents (63 per cent) said no.

Tory MP Craig Mackinlay, who set up Parliament’s Net Zero Scrutiny Group to examine Government plans to slash carbon emissions, urged immediate action.

He said: “All taxation on domestic energy, VAT and environmental levies should be slashed – which would give up to 15 per cent relief on energy bills. Fast-track licences for domestic oil and gas, onshore and offshore, should be immediately implemented.”

Richard Tice, leader of Brexit Party successor Reform UK, said he expects an “energy equivalent of the furlough scheme” will be used to heavily subsidise the bills of “millions and millions of people”.

He wants VAT on energy bills and “environmental levies ” axed.

Business chiefs and economists have urged ministers to harness natural gas by approving fracking.

An open letter signed by figures including Wetherspoons chairman Tim Martin, consumer goods entrepreneur John Mills, ex-chambers of Commerce boss John Longworth and economist Roger Bootle says: “If we were to release just 10 per cent of British natural shale gas the UK would be self-sufficient in energy for the next 30 years.

“This would ease the burden on families and businesses.”

But Friends of the Earth policy chief Mike Childs warned against exploiting more fossil fuels. He said: “Gas is now six times more expensive than onshore wind and solar energy, so it makes sense to boost investment in renewables.

“Many new oil and gas fields, like those in the North Sea, take decades to start contributing to our energy supply. There are more than 600 renewable energy projects that already have planning permission ...so ramping up capacity here would be far quicker.

“Clean energy promises the fastest route to lower bills. Fracking will hardly bring down soaring bills, as ministers and energy companies have admitted.

“Uk-produced gas will be sold within the global market.”

The Treasury said its energy security strategy “will reduce our exposure to volatile international prices, increase self-reliance and help us drive down the cost of energy bills in the long term”.

While a Government spokesman added: “Unless the latest scientific evidence shows that shale gas extraction is safe, sustainable and of minimal disturbance to those living and working nearby, the pause in England will remain in place.”

‘We’ll need fossil fuel for decades’