Labour’s energy policy has left us dependent on enemies | Politics | News
Dame Priti Patel is appalled by what she sees as a watering down of sanctions (Image: Julian Hamilton/Reach Plc)
When the US loosened sanctions on Russia in March, Keir Starmer expressed his disappointment. He said, โour position is clear. All partners should maintain pressure on Russia and its war chest.โ
Ruling out any prospect of the UK copying the USโs move, Starmer said: โOur sanctions remain, and there is no question about that. We remain committed to exerting that maximum economic pressure.โ Just a couple of months later, Starmerโs words in March have turned out to be hollow.
In the latest round of sanctions on Russia, Starmer has left a loophole for Russian oil that has been refined into diesel and jet fuel in other countries because their net zero policies mean we have lost our domestic industry and have to rely on global supplies, including from countries that are still importing Russian oil. This has led to shortages and price rises as well as dependency on our enemies.
This is wrong for our country โ not to mention Ukraine โ on so many levels. It will mean Britain is funding Putinโs brutal war machine. It will undermine Ukrainian faith in our support for the heroic defence of their country.
And it will make Britain look weak on the global stage, including in the eyes of our enemies.
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At the start of the conflict, the Conservatives made sure Britain was at the forefront of supporting Ukraine. We provided vital weaponry that kept Russia at bay and rallied parters across the world to back Ukraineโs fight for freedom.
Yet we now risk losing that proud position at the front of the pack.
The EU, which was slower to back Ukraine than us, has stuck to strict sanctions. Yet Labour have opened the door to Russian resources.
And whatโs more, this move isnโt necessary.
Starmer could get prices down if he would only overrule Ed Miliband and use the oil and gas right here in our country.
Just this week, Labour MPs voted against new UK oil and gas licences.
The Conservatives tried to amend the Kingโs Speech to approve licences for the Rosebank and Jackdaw North Sea fields, but Labour wouldnโt have it.
The SNP abstained, despite the vital importance for Scotland and the wider UK.
And Miliband seems set on banning such licences for good.
Britain has taken pride in its strong support for Ukraine (Image: Getty)
Labour have run down our domestic fuel production, and now, with prices rising, we are importing from Russia to fill the gap.
Itโs insane. And Moscow is laughing at us because of it.
The solution here is simple.
Rather than relying on imports from countries that wish us harm, we should get Britain drilling in the North Sea.
This will shore up our energy security at the same time as cutting bills for ordinary people. The Conservatives are the only party that will do it.
