Tories fume at Keir Starmer's plan to ban all new North Sea oil and gas drilling trends now
Britain will be left more reliant on foreign energy imports under Labour plans to block all new North Sea oil and gas developments, critics claimed today.
Sir Keir Starmer is set to announce his party's net zero plans in the coming weeks as part of his latest 'national mission' for a Labour administration.
His proposals will reportedly include a pledge to ban all new North Sea oil and gas licences in a major break with current Government policy.
Since becoming Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak has pledged his 'wholehearted support' to Scotland's oil and gas industry and stressed Britain will need to 'rely' on fossil fuels for decades to come.
He has insisted it it 'makes sense' to utilise sources in the UK rather than rely on imports as the country transitions away from hydrocarbons.
The Government last year opened up a new licensing round to allow oil and gas companies to explore for fossil fuels in the North Sea.
Sir Keir Starmer is set to announce his party's net zero plans in the coming weeks as part of his latest 'national mission' for a Labour administration
The Labour leader's proposals will reportedly include a pledge to ban all new North Sea oil and gas licences in a major break with current Government policy
According to the Sunday Times, Sir Keir will draw an electoral dividing line with the Tories over North Sea oil and gas in a speech in Scotland next month.
He will also announce that a Labour government would only borrow to invest in green enterprises and promise to double onshore wind, triple solar and more than quadruple offshore wind power, the newspaper reported.
Labour are expected to claim their plans will create up to half a million jobs in the renewables industry, including at least 50,000 in Scotland.
But critics berated Sir Keir for abandoning those currently employed in Britain's oil and gas sector.
Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross said: 'First it was the SNP, now Labour want to abandon the North East and the thousands of jobs that support North Sea oil and gas.
'Only the Scottish Conservatives will stand up for the area and those employed in our oil and gas sector.'
Stephen Kerr, a fellow Tory MSP,
