Ideological war has energy security at tipping point

THE future of UK energy security is at tipping point and it is difficult not to look at the changing geopolitical landscape and worry.

- Andrew Bowie

Decisions and events elsewhere could have a huge bearing on short and long-term prospects for Britain's economy just as we saw squalling fiscal headwinds from Covid and then Putin's illegal war in Ukraine.

But equally, what the leaders of our United Kingdom do now will have an impact on energy security in the months and years to come.

Then, we have tens of thousands of jobs at threat across the North East, with an estimated 200,000 across Britain.

So on Wednesday there was some cause for optimism when it was initially reported that the Labour government was about to do a volte-face on oil and gas. On Rosebank, Jackdaw and more.

But what we got instead was a no-show from Ed Miliband and his cadre of climate activists. Kicking the can down the road, making it look like there was cause for hope, then not delivering. A U-turn? More like a spin.

SINCE the start of the year, I have been holding events and meetings for North East oil and gas leaders as well as employees.

Most agree that Labour policy is hastening the decline of the North Sea, far faster than any responsible government would.