The government’s increased use of fossil fuel reserves in the King’s Speech today has induced anger and even legal action among both environmental activists and opposition politicians.
The speech saw the government announce new legislation to allow the North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA) to invite applications for new oil and gas licences on an annual basis.
The move comes after the Prime Minister’s decision earlier this year to expand Rosebank and allow drilling in the North Sea which was described as “monumentally irresponsible”.
The leader of the opposition, Kier Starmer predictably lambasted the plans: “They didn’t invest in clean British energy. They scrapped home insulation. And they’re doing it all again,” he said in his response.
“Moving the targets back, passing it on the next generation. Sticking plaster politics”.
Shadow net zero secretary Ed Miliband took to X, formerly known as twitter, and said: “As millions of families work harder than ever to pay their bills, Rishi Sunak’s Conservatives decided that their response to the cost of living crisis would be legislation that they themselves admit won’t cut household energy bills by a penny. The definition of out of touch.”
But it’s not just opposition parties who disagree with the Prime Minister’s moves, speaking at the NetZero conference last week former energy minister Chris Skidmore, who wrote a set of government recommendations on net zero, was adamant that he would not vote in favour recommendations at the King’s Speech should they go against his suggestions, “This goes beyond party politics,” he said.
Could the King’s Speech measures ‘breach the Climate Change Act too’ ?
Meanwhile in response to the announcements, the Good Law Project in conjunction with Friends of the Earth and ClientEarth taking the government to court in order to force them to set out a realistic plan to tackle the climate emergency.
Previously, they took the government to court to force a rewrite of the new plan – however they are still adamant that Carbon Delivery Plan is not up to scratch: “After carefully studying the new plan, lawyers for Friends of the Earth, Client Earth and Good Law Project all think this revised plan breaches the Climate Change Act too.”
“And so, alongside Friends of the Earth and ClientEarth, we are again taking the government to court.”
NGO ShareAction’s chief executive of responsible investment Catherine Howarth commented: “The King’s Speech was an opportunity for the government to set out a comprehensive blue print for a financial services industry that protects people planet and wealth.”
“Recklessly, the government has instead chosen to double down on fossil fuels with a new era of licences for North Sea oil and gas. This is not the solution to the climate crisis threatening our communities”.
The King’s Speech has just unveiled legislation to allow yearly bids from oil and gas giants to drill in the North Sea.
This Government won’t take the climate crisis seriously. This is why we’re taking it to court with @friends_earth and @ClientEarth ⬇️https://t.co/Tb9WE3geA5
— Good Law Project (@GoodLawProject) November 7, 2023
Subscribe to Sustainability Beat for free
Sign up here to get the latest sustainability news sent straight to your inbox everyday
Chaos in Downing Street. @RishiSunak unfortunately your own Energy Secretary has just this morning revealed the truth: your political stunt will not cut a penny off energy bills. https://t.co/KGWRMPEc2h
— Ed Miliband (@Ed_Miliband) November 6, 2023
‘Taking voters for fools’
Also reacting to the new measures Greenpeace UK head of politics Rebecca Newsom said: “From annual oil and gas licences to giving landlords more power to kick tenants out of their homes – this King’s Speech has just served as a vehicle for Sunak to further his desperate pursuit of short-term political point scoring, at the expense of the public”.
“All of the world’s superpowers are investing heavily in green infrastructure, renewables and the clean tech of the future because they know it will generate economic growth, jobs and ultimately help to stop the planet from burning.”
“Instead, our prime minister has decided to line up a licencing bonanza for his pals in the oil and gas industry that the government has already admitted won’t lower bills – and won’t deliver energy security either.”
“The prime minister is taking voters for fools,” she added.
