Talk of shutting down oil and gas production "crazy" - says PM
Boris Johnson also said he is "more convinced than ever" that Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine will fail
Last updated 18th Mar 2022
Boris Johnson says talks of shutting down the UK's domestic oil and gas production is "crazy."
Speaking at the Scottish Conservative party conference in Aberdeen earlier, the Prime Minister said the UK was investing in renewable energy including offshore wind.
He told the Scottish Conservative conference: "I also mean making sensible use of this country's own natural hydrocarbon resources.
"Are we not crazy to be talking about completely shutting down domestic production?
"Only to buy oil and gas at a vast mark-up from Vladimir Putin's Russia.
"And yet that unbelievably is the stated policy of the Scottish National Party and the Labour Party."
The PM also said he is "more convinced than ever" that Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine will fail and confirmed more defensive weapons would be provided to help Ukraine against "pitiless bombardments"
He added: "I am more convinced than ever that Putin will fail.
"He will fail, because in his catastrophic venture in Ukraine he fatally underestimated the heroism and the resolve of the Ukrainians to fight.
"He underestimated Western unity. And among other things, by the way, he underestimated the passionate commitment of the people in this country to help."
Last week, Scottish Tory Leader and Moray MP Douglas Ross decided to withdraw his letter to the 1922 committee, calling on the PM to resign.
Boris Johnson was full of praise for his party colleague earlier.
He said: "Douglas Ross has been able to defy the sceptics, stop Nicola Sturgeon from getting an overall majority as people said that she would.
"Get more votes than any previous Scottish Conservative leader, including Ruth Davidson, brilliant though she is."
"He's the only political leader in Scotland saying loud and clear what should be blindingly obvious to everyone.
"That this is not the moment to be having another referendum."