Labour’s Energy Dilemma: “drill, baby, drill,”?

[Social Media]

 

Is Labour inching toward a version of Donald Trump’s “drill, baby, drill,” or is the party still caught in a cycle of policy indecision? A fresh wave of confusion has emerged as Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar appears to advocate for “new oil and gas” while the party insists there has been no shift from Ed Miliband’s ban on developing new fields.  

 

Sarwar’s remarks have raised eyebrows, particularly as he called for the use of “new oil and gas” to reduce reliance on costly imports—an argument backed by industry experts who claim that tapping into fresh reserves could supply nearly half of Britain’s energy for the next 25 years. The timing is notable, given reports suggesting that developing new fields could inject a staggering £150 billion into the UK economy.  

 

 

However, Labour sources were quick to clarify that there has been no official deviation from Miliband’s policy. According to the party, Sarwar’s mention of “new oil and gas” was not a call for fresh drilling but rather a reference to maximizing output from existing fields.  

 

His comments followed a push from Offshore Energies UK (OEUK), the body representing the oil and gas industry, which has urged Labour to reconsider its stance. OEUK argues that reversing Miliband’s ban on new drilling could unlock at least three billion additional barrels of oil from UK waters, bringing total North Sea reserves to seven billion barrels—almost half of the 15 billion needed to sustain Britain’s energy supply until 2050.  

 

Sarwar, who has previously clashed with Labour leadership over energy policy and welfare issues, stopped short of outright opposing the current ban. Instead, he emphasized the urgent need to “maximize our existing resources,” stating: “The choice is more expensive imports from despotic regimes like Russia or new oil and gas, then the answer must be oil and gas.” He framed this as a critical moment for Britain, adding: “This is a generation-defining moment, we must rise to it to deliver the security and prosperity our country needs.”  

 

David Whitehouse, chief executive of OEUK, echoed the sentiment, acknowledging that the UK is on a path toward net zero but arguing that “we will need oil and gas for decades to come. It makes sense for the UK to produce as much as it can itself.”  

 

The industry, however, remains frustrated by Labour’s reluctance to embrace new drilling. Many fear that sticking to the current policy leaves Britain dependent on expensive imports, including from the US. Critics also argue that relying on foreign oil and gas is environmentally counterproductive, as North Sea energy production is significantly cleaner.  

 

With a Scottish Parliament election just over a year away and increasing pressure on net zero commitments, Labour’s current stance may not hold for long. Even the SNP, now free from Nicola Sturgeon’s Green-influenced policies, has adopted a more flexible approach, promising to judge new field applications “on their merits.”  

 

As the debate rages on, Scottish Tory leader Russell Findlay made his party’s position clear: “We are in favour of using all of the country’s resources.”  

For now, Labour continues to walk a fine line, caught between its green commitments and the growing economic and political pressure to secure domestic energy supplies. The real question is whether the party’s policy will evolve—or whether it will continue to straddle the line between drilling and dodging.  

 

Based on a report by The Telegraph  2025-03-27

 

 

[sidgy]

It’s a no brainer. Be self reliant and with large tax receipts, well paid jobs with inputs into national economy or rely on costly and unreliable imports.

The green argument doesn’t hold up…. Importing oil and gas is less green then producing from own fields

Drill baby drill 

[JonnyF]

Could Labour finally be making a good decision?

 

Somehow, I doubt it.

[newbee2022]

2 hours ago, Social Media said:

 

Is Labour inching toward a version of Donald Trump’s “drill, baby, drill,” or is the party still caught in a cycle of policy indecision? A fresh wave of confusion has emerged as Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar appears to advocate for “new oil and gas” while the party insists there has been no shift from Ed Miliband’s ban on developing new fields.  

 

Sarwar’s remarks have raised eyebrows, particularly as he called for the use of “new oil and gas” to reduce reliance on costly imports—an argument backed by industry experts who claim that tapping into fresh reserves could supply nearly half of Britain’s energy for the next 25 years. The timing is notable, given reports suggesting that developing new fields could inject a staggering £150 billion into the UK economy.  

 

 

However, Labour sources were quick to clarify that there has been no official deviation from Miliband’s policy. According to the party, Sarwar’s mention of “new oil and gas” was not a call for fresh drilling but rather a reference to maximizing output from existing fields.  

 

His comments followed a push from Offshore Energies UK (OEUK), the body representing the oil and gas industry, which has urged Labour to reconsider its stance. OEUK argues that reversing Miliband’s ban on new drilling could unlock at least three billion additional barrels of oil from UK waters, bringing total North Sea reserves to seven billion barrels—almost half of the 15 billion needed to sustain Britain’s energy supply until 2050.  

 

Sarwar, who has previously clashed with Labour leadership over energy policy and welfare issues, stopped short of outright opposing the current ban. Instead, he emphasized the urgent need to “maximize our existing resources,” stating: “The choice is more expensive imports from despotic regimes like Russia or new oil and gas, then the answer must be oil and gas.” He framed this as a critical moment for Britain, adding: “This is a generation-defining moment, we must rise to it to deliver the security and prosperity our country needs.”  

 

David Whitehouse, chief executive of OEUK, echoed the sentiment, acknowledging that the UK is on a path toward net zero but arguing that “we will need oil and gas for decades to come. It makes sense for the UK to produce as much as it can itself.”  

 

The industry, however, remains frustrated by Labour’s reluctance to embrace new drilling. Many fear that sticking to the current policy leaves Britain dependent on expensive imports, including from the US. Critics also argue that relying on foreign oil and gas is environmentally counterproductive, as North Sea energy production is significantly cleaner.  

 

With a Scottish Parliament election just over a year away and increasing pressure on net zero commitments, Labour’s current stance may not hold for long. Even the SNP, now free from Nicola Sturgeon’s Green-influenced policies, has adopted a more flexible approach, promising to judge new field applications “on their merits.”  

 

As the debate rages on, Scottish Tory leader Russell Findlay made his party’s position clear: “We are in favour of using all of the country’s resources.”  

For now, Labour continues to walk a fine line, caught between its green commitments and the growing economic and political pressure to secure domestic energy supplies. The real question is whether the party’s policy will evolve—or whether it will continue to straddle the line between drilling and dodging.  

 

Based on a report by The Telegraph  2025-03-27

 

 

To forget the output of CO2 emmisions is a crime to the next generations and only selfishness can generate "drill, baby drill". 

I'm sure Starmer got the wisdom to realize this👍

[Purdey]

What about new tech for energy efficiency? Solar energy? 

Oil and gas have a shell life. 

[James105]

Fascinating to see Labour having to implement policies they would be screaming about had it been the Tories that implemented them.  First they took away the Winter fuel allowance, then they went for the farmers with inheritance tax, then they slashed the the foreign aid budget, then they hit the disabled by reducing their benefits.   If it wasn't for the 40% increase in illegal migrant crossings (Labour's one area of growth) and the tax on education for private schools I'd be wondering if the Tories or reform had somehow wangled their way into government.   Now they are talking about using the UK's own natural resources rather than importing coal or whatever from China?  

 

Even more fascinating is watching the Labour shills contort themselves into supporting these policies.   

[Jim Blue]

20 minutes ago, Purdey said:

What about new tech for energy efficiency? Solar energy? 

Oil and gas have a shell life. 

Well so do sun and wind , for me the OEUK ' s have it  but  they could do with a rebranding !

[Purdey]

6 hours ago, Social Media said:

“We are in favour of using all of the country’s resources.”

“We are in favour of using up all of the country’s resources.”  Thats better.

[shackleton]

Labour and red Ed Miliband are well on their way to bankrupt the UK 

Common sense would say use the oil assets on your door step

But Red Ed would import before thinking sense 🤔 

[Thingamabob]

It is a betrayal of the British people  that they are not being allowed to benefit from the production of the significant amounts of oil, gas and coal reserves with which Britain has been blessed. Labour entirely to blame, fronted by the treacherous and demented Ed Miliband who famously stabbed his brother in the back in a Labour leadership contest. I fear Britain is in deep trouble under the current government, although the Tories also have a lot to answer for.