Reform UK Demands Full Extraction of UK Oil and Gas Reserves
Reform UK has issued a stark call for the United Kingdom to extract "every last barrel, every last drop" of its domestic oil and gas resources. The party's energy spokesperson, Richard Tice MP, made this declaration during a press conference held in Aberdeen, emphasising the need for energy security and economic revival.
North Sea Development and Fracking Backed
Mr Tice insisted that the UK Government must approve all existing drilling consents for the North Sea, specifically naming the controversial Rosebank and Jackdaw fields. These projects have faced significant opposition from environmental campaigners, but Tice argued they are "absolutely vital" for sending a "sign of confidence" to the energy industry.
Furthermore, the Reform MP advocated for the extraction of onshore shale gas through fracking, particularly highlighting potential reserves in his Lincolnshire constituency. "In Lincolnshire there is shale gas to the tune of potentially a decade's worth, give or take, of UK gas demand," he stated, adding that various safe extraction techniques exist.
Energy Security and Economic Arguments
Tice linked his demands directly to current global instability, noting rising energy prices connected to conflict in the Gulf. "With everything that's going on in the world at the moment, has there ever been a more important time to understand the importance of having our own secure supply of energy?" he questioned.
In a dramatic moment during the conference, the lights briefly failed, which Tice described as a deliberate stunt to illustrate energy supply vulnerabilities. He claimed the UK had narrowly avoided blackouts the previous year, remarking, "To think that we are on an island of energy treasure of oil and gas and yet we could run out of electricity."
The MP drew parallels with the United States, arguing that shale gas extraction "literally transformed the US economy some 20 years ago from being an energy importer, to using their own domestic energy... and then becoming an energy exporter." He asserted the UK could achieve similar benefits, leading to "cheap energy, cheap gas, cheap electricity once again" and reduced living costs.
Four-Point Plan and Regulatory Changes
Alongside these calls, Tice announced Reform UK's "critical four-point plan" for the energy sector. Key proposals include:
- Renaming the North Sea Transition Authority back to the Oil and Gas Authority
- Changing its statutory mandate to pursue "maximum economic recovery" of fossil fuels
- Abolishing the Energy Profits Levy (windfall tax) introduced by the Conservatives and maintained by Labour
- Incentivising investment by domestic and international energy companies
Tice argued that removing the windfall tax would help reverse what he called a "frankly a humiliation" – noting that while 49 new wells were drilled in Norwegian waters last year, none were drilled in the UK. "We have to give a clear message to the oil and gas industry that we are deadly serious," he declared, emphasising job creation, wealth generation, and competitive energy prices.
The Reform UK spokesperson concluded by reiterating his central message: "As far as I'm concerned, frankly, every last barrel, every last drop. Because it is our energy treasure, it creates jobs here, it creates wealth here and prosperity and gives us low competitive energy prices, so we have to do this."
