UK Government denies claims Ed Miliband ordered immediate ban on new oil and gas licences
Reports today suggested Labour's Energy Minister ordered the regulator to block any new licences to drill in the North Sea.
Reports claiming Ed Miliband ordered an immediate ban on new oil and gas licences have been shut down by the UK Government.
It was reported today in the Telegraph Labour's new Energy Minister ordered the North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA) to block any bids still to be granted in the next licencing round.
However, upon confirming the claims, the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) explained reports Ed Miliband intervened in the process were not true and had been 'misinterpreted'.
The regulator, NSTA, activated the 33rd licencing round in 2022, with 76 applications.
It is believed several of these bids had not yet been approved prior to the General Election.
Labour's policies on drilling in the North Sea have been widely criticised by the sector, and a statement provided to the publication appeared to reiterate their manifesto regarding their stance on the matter.
The original statement from Mr Miliband's spokesperson read: “We will not issue new licences to explore new fields, and will not revoke existing oil and gas licences. We will manage existing fields for the entirety of their lifespan.”
Now, DESNZ have debunked the claims, stating they are working alongside NSTA to ensure a 'fair and balanced' transition away from oil and gas.
A DESNZ spokesperson said: “This piece is a complete fabrication - it invents meetings and decisions that have not taken place.
“As previously stated, we will not issue new licences to explore new fields. We will also not revoke existing oil and gas licences and will manage existing fields for the entirety of their lifespan.
"We are working with the North Sea Transition Authority to ensure a fair and balanced transition in the North Sea.”
A spokesperson for the NSTA said: “We follow the policy direction set by the government of the day.”
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