A Labour Member of Parliament has sharply criticized the party's proposed legislation to halt future North Sea oil and gas drilling, labeling the move "hypocritical and pointless." Henry Tufnell, the MP for Mid and South Pembrokeshire, argued that the ban constitutes "an act of self-harm" by the government.
Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Tufnell highlighted what he perceives as a double standard, stating, "We are prepared to import gas from the US, we're prepared to import gas that has been drilled in Norway, but we are not prepared to drill our own oil and gas in the North Sea and bring in the economic benefits from tax receipts and support jobs there." He added, "There is a hypocrisy there that I really struggle to get my head around."
Tufnell, who co-founded the cross-party Industry First pressure group to advocate for new oil and gas drilling, emphasized the importance of energy security in the current geopolitical climate. "We think that energy security is national security," he stated, noting the impacts of conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine on global energy markets. He believes the party needs to adapt to "an ever-changing world" and that energy security has become a critical issue.
The proposed Energy Independence Bill, which will block future licensing for oil and gas exploration, has drawn criticism amid the ongoing cost-of-living crisis. However, the legislation will not affect the decision on the Rosebank oil field, as it was approved in 2023, although its future is subject to a legal challenge.
A recent poll indicated that a significant portion of Labour supporters favor the development of North Sea resources. According to polling for Offshore Energies UK, 65 percent of those who voted Labour in the 2024 general election want to see the Rosebank project approved. The poll also found that 72 percent of Labour voters believe oil and gas are "essential for the foreseeable future."
In contrast, less than a fifth of Labour voters reportedly agree with Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh's reported reluctance to approve the Rosebank field, which is the largest undeveloped oil field in UK waters. However, 68 percent of the party's supporters backed the decision to approve the Jackdaw gas field last month.