Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has stated that oil and gas will continue to play a significant role in the UK’s energy strategy for decades, despite the transition towards cleaner power sources.
Speaking during a visit to the UK National Nuclear Laboratory in Preston, Starmer affirmed his government’s commitment to clean energy but stressed that existing oil and gas licences, including those for the controversial Rosebank and Jackdaw fields, must be considered under their respective application processes.
Balancing Energy Security and Transition
“We do need to transition to clean power,” Starmer said, “but we also recognise that oil and gas is going to be a big part of the future for many decades to come.”
His comments follow a legal challenge against the UK government’s approval of the Rosebank oil field northwest of Shetland and the Jackdaw gas field off Aberdeen. Environmental campaigners argued that assessments failed to consider the full climate impact of burning extracted fuels.
When asked whether he would intervene in the decision on Rosebank’s future, Starmer stated: “What we said at the election was we weren’t going to interfere with existing licences—this process started before the election.”
Push for Infrastructure and Nuclear Power
The Prime Minister also used his visit to reinforce his government’s focus on infrastructure and nuclear energy development. He announced plans to accelerate the approval of new nuclear power plants across England and Wales, including the deployment of small modular reactors (SMRs).
“I say build, baby, build,” Starmer declared, responding to US President Donald Trump’s “drill, baby, drill” rhetoric. “We’re going to take on the blockers so we can build.”
The reforms aim to reduce reliance on volatile international energy markets and boost domestic energy security. Starmer reiterated his ambition to lower energy bills by up to £300 by 2030, stating: “That is our aim, that’s what we are driving towards.”
Scottish Labour Urges Nuclear Investment
Meanwhile, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar called on First Minister John Swinney to drop his opposition to nuclear power, arguing that Scotland is losing billions in investment and thousands of jobs to England and Wales.
“The refusal to allow new nuclear power plants is costing Scotland economic opportunities,” Sarwar said during First Minister’s Questions.
With energy policy set to remain a key issue in both Westminster and Holyrood, the debate over the role of fossil fuels and nuclear power in the UK’s transition to net-zero is far from over.
