Trump 'speaking for oil firms' in attack on UK energy policies

Climate campaigners have accused Donald Trump of attacking Britain's energy policies on behalf of the fossil fuel industry, which made record donations to his presidential campaign.

- Jillian Ambrose

The US president-elect wrote in a social media post yesterday that the British government was "making a very big mistake" by cracking down on North Sea oil and gas producers and added that the UK should "get rid of windmills".

The Labour government has decided to raise taxes for oil and gas producers while granting record subsidies to new wind power projects.

The UK plans to double its onshore wind generation and quadruple its offshore wind capacity by the end of the decade to help meet its target to run a clean power system by 2030 and hit legally binding climate targets. At the same time it has ruled out granting any new oil and gas licences.

Trump posted on his social media platform Truth Social: "Open up the North Sea. Get rid of Windmills!"