𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

Ed Miliband is facing pressure to approve new oil and gas drilling in the North Sea. The Tories are set to force a vote in the Commons pushing for a U-turn on the ban, which they have branded “sheer lunacy” as the Iran war sends fuel prices soaring.

The party will table an Opposition Day motion calling on the Government to give the green light to drilling in the Rosebank and Jackdaw oil fields. Shadow energy secretary Claire Coutinho said: “Turning our backs on domestic gas that could heat millions of homes would be madness in normal times, but it is sheer lunacy in the midst of a gas supply crisis.”

Ms Coutinho said: “We must fast-track Rosebank and Jackdaw and lift the onerous bans and taxes on the North Sea to back Britain’s energy security.

“Labour MPs have the chance to show they will put the national interest over Ed Miliband’s zealotry.”

However, the motion is unlikely to pass due to Labour’s large Commons majority.

The Tories warned that without action, the UK could be importing as much as 82% of its gas by 2035, leaving billpayers vulnerable to oil price volatility.

Mr Miliband told Labour MPs yesterday that North Sea oil and gas would play an important role for decades to come.

The Energy Secretary said: “But anyone who tells you that new licences in the North Sea will make any difference to price is not telling you the truth.

“Because gas is bought and sold on the international market and the price is set there. As the last government repeatedly admitted.”

Oil and gas prices have been driven up in recent weeks as Iran has blocked key shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz, with commercial vessels coming under attack in the region.