Key facts
- UK Conservatives criticize Labour's ban on new North Sea oil and gas licenses.
- Kemi Badenoch stated the ban is 'utter madness' and harms the UK industry.
- A University of Aberdeen study suggests prioritizing domestic oil and gas production.
- The study estimates 4.7 billion barrels of oil equivalent remain to be discovered West of Shetland.
- Conservatives pledge to scrap the windfall tax and the ban on new developments.
Kemi Badenoch, leader of the UK Conservative Party, has labeled the ruling Labour government's policy of banning new oil and gas licenses in the North Sea as 'utter madness.' She argued that billions of barrels of untapped oil could benefit the UK industry and reduce reliance on imports. This stance is in direct opposition to the Labour government's recent move to permanently ban new licenses in the UK section of the North Sea, a decision that has drawn criticism from industry associations and the Conservatives.