More than seven in ten Britons back North Sea oil and gas over imports

More than seven in ten people back North Sea oil and gas over imports, polling shows.

Incoming Prime Minister Andy Burnham has been urged to change course on the North Sea as it emerged 71 per cent of people believed “the UK should produce as much as it can from its own waters, rather than relying on imports from abroad”.

Just eight per cent of the 2,050 adults polled by Opinium said it did not matter where our oil and gas came from.

Almost half (49 per cent) believed the UK should follow Norway’s lead and allow new exploration licences, which are banned under the Labour administration.

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Just 24 per cent disagreed. Among Labour voters, 42 per cent supported more exploration, with 35 per cent against.

The ban was a pledge in Labour’s manifesto, but critics say it has hit the offshore industry and made us more reliant on imported fuel.

The polling, which was commissioned by trade body Offshore Energies UK, revealed that two-thirds of those questioned believed oil and gas were “essential for the foreseeable future”.

Asked if Net Zero should be delivered as quickly as possible, even if this hits jobs and energy supplies, 21 per cent agreed.

But more than half (51 per cent) said it should be introduced “gradually, to reduce the impact on jobs and energy supplies”.

David Whitehouse, Chief Executive of Offshore Energies UK, said voters were looking for “a significant shift” in North Sea policy from Mr Burnham.

He said the current stance had put energy security at risk.

He said: “This compelling new data shows that the British public are looking for huge change in energy policy from the new Prime Minister.

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“Declining homegrown oil and gas production in the North Sea has increased UK exposure to imports and geopolitical risk. The voters have had enough.”

He said support for the North Sea bridged the Left/Right political divide.

“All corners of the UK population are looking for change from Andy Burnham, including the government’s own core supporters,” he said.

“Almost 70 per cent of Labour voters said that the UK should continue producing oil and gas in the North Sea rather than rely on imports compared to just 9 per cent who said it doesn’t matter where it comes from.

“Labour voters are also looking for a significant shift in the government’s flagship ban on new exploration.

“Only 35 per cent of Labour supporters want the current ban on new offshore licences to continue, with a clear majority (42 per cent) favouring Norway’s much more pragmatic approach to allowing new drilling offshore.

“The next Prime Minister is promising hope to make sure that Britain’s industrial communities are not left behind.

"Nowhere is this more desperately needed than with the UK’s energy sector.

“Domestic production is less carbon-intensive, supports the energy transition, produces billions of pounds of tax revenues for the Chancellor, and builds industrial resilience across the country, making us all more secure.

“We need an energy policy reset to back North Sea oil and gas, not imports.”

Mr Burnham declared “I have a plan” to give people “hope back” as he officially became the party’s new leader today.

He has previously said he was “open-minded” about the prospect of more North Sea drilling.

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