Axing North Sea oil ‘risks raising global emissions’

BRITAIN cannot “just stop oil” and the drive to do so is making us poorer, dirtier and risking energy shortages next winter, an expert says.

- BY AARON NEWBURY

Labour's quest to end the reliance on North Sea oil is counterproductive, according to an Institute of Economic Affairs report.

Author Kathryn Porter, of Watt-Logic consultants, claims replacing domestic oil and gas production with imports would increase emissions by around 50%.

It could also risk shortages later this year.

Ms Porter calculates the UK would still need around 168 million barrels of oil in 2050, the year Labour wants to hit net zero.