WES Streeting has backed new oil drilling licenses for the North Sea as he accused opponents of opening the door to a Reform UK government.
The Labour leadership hopeful said that production should be allowed to begin at both the Jackdaw and Rosebank oil and gas fields to cut bills and carbon emissions at the same time.
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Wes Streeting has backed new oil drilling licenses for the North Sea as he accused opponents of opening the door to a Reform UK government Credit: The Jattvibe
Sir Keir Starmer is due to head to France for the G7 summit Credit: AFP
His policy blitz comes as Sir Keir Starmer is due to head to France for the G7 summit and Andy Burnham standing in the crunch by-election in Makerfield.
Streeting said he would use tax receipts from the two new fields to fund heat pumps and home insulation, helping to reduce carbon emissions.
He said: “Businesses and households are held back by high energy costs.
“The tax receipts from new North Sea oil and gas fields should be funnelled into cheaper energy: insulation, heat pumps, and electrification to cut bills and emissions.
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“Opponents of the North Sea say it sets the wrong example to the world.
“But the worst example we can set is that net zero can only be delivered on the backs of the poor and working people’s jobs.
“This is the route to Nigel Farage walking into Downing Street and destroying our renewables industry.
“The best example we can set is to show that the net zero and growth agendas are not in competition.
“That we can cut bills and cut emissions at the same time.”
Rival Andy Burnham who is standing in Thursday’s by-election in Makerfield insists he will maintain the triple lock.
