Labour to Ban North Sea Drilling Permanently by Law

Labour plans to enshrine a permanent ban on new North Sea oil and gas drilling into law, a move that will fundamentally reshape Britain's energy future and lock in a policy that critics argue will destroy domestic supply.

This measure, part of the upcoming energy independence bill announced during the King's Speech, converts Ed Miliband's existing temporary moratorium into a statutory prohibition, as reported by the Daily Express. It also extends to banning onshore fracking, solidifying Labour's manifesto commitment to halt new exploration licences.

Critics have reacted sharply, with Shadow Energy Secretary Claire Coutinho condemning the policy as "the wilful destruction of our own domestic energy supplies and people's livelihoods." She added, "It is utterly shameful and we Conservatives will fight them every step of the way." Richard Tice of Reform UK dismissed the plan as "ludicrous."

The timing of this announcement is particularly contentious, coming as global energy markets are in turmoil following the Iran war, which has cut Middle Eastern fuel supplies. According to The Telegraph, industry leaders, including those from British Gas and Octopus Energy, have urged the Energy Secretary to reconsider, warning that Britain risks increased reliance on foreign imports from countries like Qatar and the USA.

The future of major projects like Rosebank and Jackdaw now hangs in the balance, with their approval uncertain. This legislative move, if passed, will ensure that even if a future government wanted to boost domestic energy production, it would face a significant legal hurdle to do so, potentially leaving Britain more exposed to volatile international markets for decades to come.