Acoalition of 47 Conservative MPs, backed by offshore oil industry groups, launched a campaign on Monday to repeal the U.K.'s 2025 ban on new North Sea oil and gas exploration licenses.
The ban, enacted by the Labour government under the Climate Compatibility Checkpoint policy, prohibits new licenses but allows existing fields to continue production. Proponents of repeal argue that the ban has increased U.K. reliance on imported liquefied natural gas, driving up household energy bills.
The campaign, called 'Energy Security Now,' is chaired by former Business Secretary Jacob Rees-Mogg. 'Net zero should not mean net poverty,' Rees-Mogg said at a launch event in Aberdeen. 'North Sea oil is cleaner than imported LNG and supports 200,000 Scottish jobs.'
Labour government holds firm
Energy Security Secretary Ed Miliband rejected the campaign, saying: 'The science is clear. We cannot burn new fossil fuel reserves without breaching our climate commitments. The ban stands.'
The campaign faces an uphill battle. Labour holds a 120-seat majority, and several Conservative MPs who support net zero — including former PM Rishi Sunak — have declined to back the repeal effort. However, a parallel motion in the Scottish Parliament has gained cross-party support.
Net zero should not mean net poverty. North Sea oil is cleaner than imported LNG and supports 200,000 Scottish jobs.
The government has pointed to record investment in offshore wind — £32 billion since 2024 — as the long-term solution. But critics note that wind does not provide the same tax revenue or employment as oil and gas.
