Sunak insists fossil fuels have to remain part of UK energy plan

RISHI Sunak has said it is “pie in the sky” to pretend fossil fuels will not be part of the UK’s transition to low carbon sources.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer labelled the Prime Minister a “roadblock” to swifter action to developing renewable sources of energy in the UK, but Mr Sunak told Sir Keir in the House of Commons yesterday: “He talked about oil and gas, again, he needs to live in the real world.

“Oil and gas are going to be a part of our energy mix in the transition for several years ahead, and it’s simply pie in the sky to pretend otherwise. The independent Committee on Climate Change has even recognised that and the carbon footprint of having homegrown gas is half the footprint of importing it from abroad, so it’s a sensible thing to do.”

Mr Sunak, in a statement to the Commons on his visit this week to the Cop27 climate summit in Egypt, said Russian President Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine should catalyse efforts to tackle climate change. He said: “Now, I know that some have feared Putin’s abhorrent war in

Ukraine could distract from global efforts from tackling climate change, but I believe it should catalyse them.

“Climate security and energy security go hand in hand. Putin’s contemptible manipulation of energy prices has only reinforced the importance of ending our dependence on fossil fuels. We’ll make this country a clean energy superpower.”