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Sir Keir Starmer faced sharp criticism from Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch during Prime Minister’s Questions after he insisted that he could not authorise new oil and gas drilling in the North Sea.
Badenoch challenged Starmer over rising fuel costs and asked whether the government would allow drilling at the Rosebank and Jackdaw fields to proceed.
Starmer repeatedly stated that the decision rested with Energy Secretary Ed Miliband, a remark that drew incredulity from Conservative members.
“I thought he was the Prime Minister?” Badenoch exclaimed. “He is the Prime Minister; he can make this decision today. He is so weak—he’s the first person to be pushed around by the Energy Secretary.”
Badenoch highlighted pressure from trade unions and former Labour Prime Minister Sir Tony Blair, arguing that Starmer had the authority to act but was choosing to defer responsibility. In response, Starmer asserted, “The legislation sets out who the decision-maker is. It’s the Secretary of State, not the Prime Minister.”
Badenoch described Starmer’s position as “pathetic,” emphasising that the UK urgently needed to unlock domestic energy sources. She pointed out that the Jackdaw gas field alone could provide heating for 1.6 million homes and could be operational before winter.
The Conservative leader warned that without action, the UK could be importing up to 82% of its gas by 2035, leaving households vulnerable to international price shocks.
Meanwhile, Starmer reiterated the government’s commitment to renewable energy, insisting that addressing fuel costs must go hand in hand with the transition to greener power. Badenoch countered that North Sea gas could be developed while continuing to invest in renewables, providing a practical solution to the energy crisis exacerbated by Iranian disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz.
This confrontation underscored the growing political pressure on the Prime Minister, as the UK faces soaring fuel prices and increasing calls for greater domestic energy production.
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