𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

Labour was blasted over its “disastrous net zero dogma” after BP put its North Sea business up for sale. The Tories warned it must be a “wake-up call” as the energy giant looks to end 60 years of production in the basin.

The party urged new Prime Minister Andy Burnham to give the green light to more oil and gas drilling in the North Sea. Shadow Business Secretary Andrew Griffith said: “This is a deadly serious wake-up call. Britain needs to compete – for energy, capital and talent – but the Government carries on regulating, putting up taxes and deterring investment. Labour simply don’t understand business.”

Shadow Energy Minister Andrew Bowie added: “BP has been drilling in British waters for six decades, but because of Labour’s disastrous net zero dogma it faces extinction.

“Andy Burnham should break with the past do what the Conservatives have called for and immediately approve the Jackdaw and Rosebank sites and cancel their plans to ban on new licences in the North Sea.

“Only the Conservatives have a plan to get Britain drilling again by ending the licence ban, scrapping the energy profits levy paid for by cancelling net zero projects, and securing high-skilled jobs for the future.”

Reform UK deputy leader Richard Tice said the potential sale was “yet another damning indictment of Britain’s failed energy strategy” which has made the UK “one of the least attractive places to invest in oil and gas”.

He added: “The North Sea still has billions of barrels of oil and gas left to produce but for some bizarre reason this government prefers to import our energy from abroad. Reform UK would end this madness.

“We would scrap the windfall tax, champion North Sea oil and gas, issue new licences and restore confidence to an industry that is vital to our economy and our energy security.”

BP said the decision is part of its strategy to slim down the group by selling off parts of the business.

The announcement comes after Mr Burnham hinted at future North Sea drilling as he confirmed he told US President Donald Trump “we can’t ignore” the resources it holds in their first phone call.

Labour’s 2024 manifesto pledged that the party would not issue new North Sea licences.

BP’s North Sea business has five production hubs with 1,100 staff.

Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh said: “I’m in close contact with BP and have made clear that my priority is ensuring that the workers and local community are protected during this sale process.

“The North Sea is a vital national asset and we will take a pragmatic approach, recognising that oil and gas will be part of our energy mix for years to come.

“I’m focused on doing right by the workers in the North Sea who have powered this country for generations.”