Government claims over new gas and oil licences “a work of fiction”, says Bath MP
23 January 2024
On 22nd January, Wera Hobhouse, Liberal Democrat MP for Bath and Spokesperson for Energy and Climate Change, slammed the government over the Offshore Petroleum Licensing Bill which guarantees annual oil and gas licences in the North Sea.
While the government insists that the Offshore Petroleum Licensing Bill will boost the economy, ensure energy security and aid in the transition to net zero, the MP for Bath swiftly undermined these claims in the House of Commons on Monday. She drew the government’s attention to the thousands of people struggling across the country to afford energy bills this winter, highlighting that even Claire Coutinho, the Energy Secretary herself, admitted that the Bill would do nothing to cut the cost of rising bills.
Wera Hobhouse refuted the government’s fictitious claims that new oil and gas licences would ensure the UK’s energy security. By shining a light on research by the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit that found that oil from new licences sent to UK refineries would account for less than 1% of fuels used in the UK in 2030, she demonstrated that the Bill would make little difference to UK energy security, contrary to the Conservative’s assurances.
The Bath MP condemned the Bill as a direct assault on the UK’s national and global climate commitments. She noted the hypocrisy of the government to issue new licences for oil and gas extraction despite signing an international agreement to phase down fossil fuels at COP28 just over a month ago.
While she accepts that oil and gas may be needed in the near future as the UK begins its transition to Net Zero, the Bath MP is critical of the government’s failure to invest in renewable alternatives to cut energy bills. She proposed that rather than the Offshore Petroleum Licensing Bill, the government should be considering a Marine Energy Bill to incentivise investment in renewable technologies, lowering household bills and facilitating the transition to Net Zero.
Wera Hobhouse, Liberal Democrat MP for Bath and Spokesperson for Energy and Climate Change, commented:
“That the government is pushing new oil and gas licences shows their complete disregard for our Net Zero commitments. The idea that these licences will ensure our energy security or cut household bills for the thousands struggling to heat their homes is a work of fiction.
“By expanding oil and gas production, the Government is undermining the promise made at COP28 to transition away from fossil fuels. It is unacceptable for us to do one thing abroad and another at home. I am ashamed to see how other nations look at us and shake their heads at our appalling leadership.”
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