In a significant intervention, 19 charities and environmental groups, including Oxfam and Greenpeace, have written to incoming Prime Minister Andy Burnham expressing their alarm at reports that he may water down the UK's commitment to renewable energy. The groups warn that issuing new North Sea drilling licences would do nothing to lower household energy bills and would undermine the country's climate goals.
The letter, sent ahead of Mr Burnham formally becoming Prime Minister on Monday, urges him to honour the Labour Party's 2024 manifesto, which explicitly stated that the party would not issue new North Sea licences. The manifesto commitment was a key plank of Labour's energy policy, designed to accelerate the transition to clean power and reduce reliance on fossil fuels.
The charities argue that any move to grant new licences would be a betrayal of the manifesto promise and would send the wrong signal to investors in renewable energy. They point out that the UK has already committed to reaching net-zero emissions by 2050 and that continued investment in fossil fuel extraction is incompatible with that target.
Reports have emerged in recent days suggesting that Mr Burnham is considering plans that could see energy bills slashed by up to £130 a year. However, the charities contend that new drilling licences would not contribute to lower bills, as the oil and gas extracted would be sold on global markets rather than reserved for domestic use. They argue that the only sustainable way to reduce bills is through investment in homegrown renewable energy, such as wind and solar power.
The groups also highlight the broader economic and environmental consequences of new drilling. They note that the North Sea oil and gas industry is in decline, with production falling and many fields nearing the end of their operational life. Issuing new licences would only prolong the transition away from fossil fuels, they argue, while doing little to create long-term jobs or energy security.
Mr Burnham, who is expected to take office on Monday, has promised to honour the Labour manifesto in full. However, the reports of a potential policy shift have caused concern among environmental campaigners and some Labour MPs. The Prime Minister-in-waiting has not yet commented publicly on the reports, but his team has indicated that energy policy will be a priority for the new government.
The intervention from the charities comes at a critical moment for UK energy policy. The country is grappling with high energy prices, driven in part by the war in Ukraine and global market volatility. At the same time, the government is under pressure to accelerate the rollout of renewable energy to meet its climate targets and reduce dependence on imported fossil fuels.
Ed Miliband, the former Labour leader and a prominent advocate for climate action, has also urged Mr Burnham to stick to the manifesto. Miliband, who served as Energy Secretary under the last Labour government, has warned that any backtracking on North Sea licences would damage the UK's credibility on climate change and undermine investor confidence in the green energy sector.
The charities' letter is signed by a broad coalition of organisations, including Friends of the Earth, the RSPB, and the Climate Coalition. They call on Mr Burnham to use his first days in office to reaffirm the government's commitment to a clean energy future and to rule out any new fossil fuel licences.
As the new Prime Minister prepares to take office, the pressure is mounting for him to deliver on the promises that helped Labour win the election. The question of North Sea drilling is likely to be one of the first major tests of his commitment to the party's environmental agenda.
