Bath MP slams government’s obsession with “energy sources of the past”
19 March 2024
Wera Hobhouse, Liberal Democrat MP for Bath and Spokesperson for Energy Security and Net Zero, slammed the government for failing to focus on securing a sustainable future, and instead adhering to the polluting status quo.
Following the Prime Minister’s announcement to build new gas power plants in the hope of bolstering the UK’s energy supply, Mrs Hobhouse joined an Urgent Question debate to demand a statement from the Secretary for Energy Security and Net Zero on the government’s plans.
During the debate, the Bath MP criticised the government for their resolute focus on new oil and gas, which she declared were energy sources of the past. She also raised serious concerns that gas power plants allow the government to waste valuable renewable energy. This comes after reports of renewable energy supplies being turned off to prevent overloading the grid, while gas, if it is closer to the source of demand, is permitted to continue to flow.
Mrs Hobhouse blasted the government for their blatant preference for fossil fuels, calling on the Minister for Energy Security and Net Zero to disclose the number of meetings he had taken with representatives from the oil and gas industry compared to the renewables industry.
Graham Stuart highlighted the government’s transmission acceleration action plan and their connections action plan to tackle the constraints of the grid system, which leads to renewable energy supplies being turned off. He also conceded that he met with representatives of the oil and gas industry frequently and vowed that the UK would still be dependent on oil and gas in 2050, despite the government’s commitment to reach net zero by then.
Wera Hobhouse, Liberal Democrat MP for Bath and Spokesperson for Energy Security and Net Zero, commented:
“The government’s determination to remain dependent on the energy sources of the past shows alarming complacency. They seem to be forgetting that it was reliance on overseas oil and gas that caused the latest global energy bill crisis.
“The Conservatives’ insistence that this dependence will ensure the UK’s energy security is complete fiction. As long as they fail to invest in clean, renewable energy, we will never become energy independent as new gas produced in the UK is sold on the international market.
“The fact that Minister Stuart is content with prolonging our dependence on fossil fuels into 2050 highlights his failure to grasp the urgency of the UK’s transition to net zero. Without serious action from those in power, they continue to risk the future of our planet.”
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