Energy and war

SIR – The Government must stop dealing with the current energy crisis as a failure of the markets and start dealing with it as a consequence of war – albeit a proxy one.

There is perfectly sufficient capacity in gas production in this country to supply the population with more affordable energy and retain the profit incentive. However, because of Vladimir Putin’s weaponisation of gas supplies, we now export record amounts to Europe, where the markets support an inflated price.

This is not the fault of our energy producers: they will secure the best price for their product. But where it causes the industrial chaos and social instability that are now inevitable, the Government must act, if necessary directing supplies and determining price, not as a market intervention but in recognition of a war.

Mr Putin is using energy to strangle resistance in Europe just as Hitler used the U-boat to starve Britain during the Second World War.

David Lane

Orleton, Herefordshire