") no-repeat center center;background-size:10px 16px;content:' '}@media(min-width:768px){.egqDdf::before{display:none}}.fGzMFb{width:100%;box-sizing:border-box}@media(min-width:768px){.fGzMFb{max-width:634px}}@media(min-width:1250px){.fGzMFb{max-width:622px}}.hHATii{display:flex;width:auto;box-sizing:border-box;align-items:center;justify-content:flex-start;gap:4px;color:#ec1a2e;color:light-dark(#ec1a2e,#ec1a2e)}.frlkrE{display:block;font:bold 14px/20px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif;text-decoration-line:underline;margin-block:0;text-align:center}.gFogGN{display:inline-flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center;gap:4px}.gFogGN:hover .sc-aja53j-2,.gFogGN:hover .sc-a5wy94-0{color:#ac2a2c;color:light-dark(#ac2a2c,#f58992)}.cDGSNR{font:normal 16px/20px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}.eSVQSf{display:flex;position:relative;overflow:hidden;width:auto;height:40px;flex-direction:column;order:-1;gap:8px;opacity:1;transition:all .5s ease-in-out;transition-behavior:allow-discrete}.eSVQSf::after{--fade-from:rgba(255,255,255,0);--fade-mid:rgba(255,255,255,0.5);--fade-to:#fff;position:absolute;bottom:0;left:0;z-index:1;width:100%;height:40px;background-image:linear-gradient(to bottom,var(--fade-from) 0,var(--fade-mid) 50%,var(--fade-to) 100%);content:'';opacity:1;pointer-events:none;transition:opacity 150ms ease-out}@supports(color:light-dark(red,red)){.eSVQSf::after{--fade-from:light-dark(rgba(255,255,255,0),rgba(0,0,0,0))}}@supports(color:light-dark(red,red)){.eSVQSf::after{--fade-mid:light-dark(rgba(255,255,255,0.5),rgba(0,0,0,0.5))}}@supports(color:light-dark(red,red)){.eSVQSf::after{--fade-to:light-dark(#fff,#000)}}@media(min-width:768px){.fiXggt{order:-1}}@media(min-width:768px){.jikgMc{display:flex;position:relative;align-items:flex-start;margin-top:12px}}@media(min-width:1000px){.iZGsHB .taboola{display:none}}.iZGsHB:has(#taboola-carousel-thumbnails){min-height:426px}.iZGsHB:has(#taboola-mid-article-thumbnails-crime){min-height:405px}@media(min-width:1000px){.iZGsHB:has(#taboola-carousel-thumbnails),.iZGsHB:has(#taboola-mid-article-thumbnails-crime){min-height:0}}.fLVhoJ .tp-container-inner,.fLVhoJ .sc-1suqprf-0{position:relative;box-shadow:0 -22px 16px 22px rgba(255,255,255,0.95);box-shadow:0 -22px 16px 22px light-dark(rgba(255,255,255,0.95),rgba(0,0,0,0.95))}.fLVhoJ.closed{display:none}.LyMAA{width:32px}.LyMAA,.LyMAA:focus{color:#3b5998;color:light-dark(#3b5998,#627aac)}.LyMAA:hover,.LyMAA:active,.LyMAA:focus-visible{color:#2f4779;color:light-dark(#2f4779,#9cabcb)}@media(min-width:768px){.LyMAA.mobile-only{display:none}}.dwVQBR{width:32px}.dwVQBR,.dwVQBR:focus{color:#000;color:light-dark(#000,#4e4e4e)}.dwVQBR:hover,.dwVQBR:active,.dwVQBR:focus-visible{color:#4e4e4e;color:light-dark(#4e4e4e,#919191)}@media(min-width:768px){.dwVQBR.mobile-only{display:none}}.dxQkdZ{width:32px}.dxQkdZ,.dxQkdZ:focus{color:#25d366;color:light-dark(#25d366,#25d366)}.dxQkdZ:hover,.dxQkdZ:active,.dxQkdZ:focus-visible{color:#1da851;color:light-dark(#1da851,#1da851)}@media(min-width:768px){.dxQkdZ.mobile-only{display:none}}.fKhHgh{width:32px}.fKhHgh,.fKhHgh:focus{color:#ec1a2e;color:light-dark(#ec1a2e,#ec1a2e)}.fKhHgh:hover,.fKhHgh:active,.fKhHgh:focus-visible{color:#ac2a2c;color:light-dark(#ac2a2c,#ac2a2c)}@media(min-width:768px){.fKhHgh.mobile-only{display:none}}.fMVKDn{display:flex;gap:12px}.kHbRaW .sc-17yxc4y-0{display:none}.kHbRaW:hover .sc-17yxc4y-0,.kHbRaW.bookmark-button-saved .sc-17yxc4y-0{display:block}.kHbRaW:hover .sc-17yxc4y-1,.kHbRaW.bookmark-button-saved .sc-17yxc4y-1{display:none}.kHbRaW.bookmark-button-saved .sc-17yxc4y-0{display:block}.kHbRaW.bookmark-button-saved .sc-17yxc4y-1{display:none}.kHbRaW.bookmark-button-saved:hover .sc-17yxc4y-0{display:none}.kHbRaW.bookmark-button-saved:hover .sc-17yxc4y-1{display:block}.eoiTHI{display:inline-block;width:32px;height:32px;color:#337e81;color:light-dark(#337e81,#337e81)}.gsHIni{display:flex;flex-direction:row;justify-content:center;gap:12px}.jTEZjg{display:flex;position:relative;justify-content:center}@media(min-width:768px){.jTEZjg{justify-content:flex-end;padding-top:12px;margin:0}}.laxBOB{display:flex}.sticky .laxBOB{flex-direction:column}.hDXmfN{overflow:hidden;height:23px;margin-bottom:8px;border-bottom:0;clear:both}@media(min-width:768px){.hDXmfN{height:25px}}.jGyHqZ{display:inline-block;flex-shrink:0;margin:0 12px 0 0;font:bold 14px/normal 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}.jGyHqZ::after{content:':'}.bsdbXr{display:inline-block;margin-right:12px;margin-bottom:4px;color:#222;color:light-dark(#222,#fff);font:normal 14px/1.29 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif;text-decoration:underline}.bsdbXr::first-letter {text-transform:capitalize}@media(min-width:1000px){.subscribed .eWQiqu{margin-top:-184px}.article-feature:not(.article-feature-video) .subscribed .eWQiqu{margin-top:-407px}}.eWQiqu>p{margin:16px 0}.article-premium .eWQiqu>p{line-height:27px}.eWQiqu>h2{font-size:21px}.article-climate .eWQiqu>h2{color:#ec1a2e;color:light-dark(#ec1a2e,#ec1a2e)}.article-sgi .eWQiqu>h2{color:#ec1a2e;color:light-dark(#ec1a2e,#ec1a2e)}.eWQiqu>p:first-child{margin-top:0}.eWQiqu span:first-child~p:first-of-type{margin-top:0}.gCqUwG{display:flex;position:relative;max-width:100%;min-height:600px;justify-content:center;margin:0 auto;background-color:transparent;clear:both}@media(min-width:1000px){.gCqUwG{min-height:450px}}.teads .gCqUwG{display:block}.gCqUwG [data-mpu]{position:sticky;top:16px}@media(min-width:1000px){.jcsUho{display:none}}.jcsUho[data-mpu1]{min-height:600px}.jcsUho.pb-20{padding-bottom:20px}.cGmNxG{overflow:hidden;width:100%;box-sizing:border-box;margin-bottom:16px}@media(min-width:768px){.cGmNxG{max-width:634px}}@media(min-width:1250px){.cGmNxG{max-width:622px}}.iqSitv{width:100%;box-sizing:border-box;padding:8px 12px 12px;border-top:8px solid #ec1a2e;border-top:8px solid light-dark(#ec1a2e,#ec1a2e);background-color:#fde8ea;background-color:light-dark(#fde8ea,#66000a)}@media(min-width:768px){.iqSitv{padding-top:4px;padding-bottom:12px}}.dlmCG{font:bold 22px/26px 'Indy Serif','Indy Serif Fallback',serif;margin:0 0 12px;text-align:center}@media(min-width:768px){.dlmCG{font:bold 30px/34px 'Indy Serif','Indy Serif Fallback',serif;letter-spacing:-0.048px;margin-bottom:12px;text-align:left}}.JMagJ{display:block;margin-bottom:12px}@media(min-width:768px){.JMagJ{display:none}}.eRfgdl{display:flex;width:100%;box-sizing:border-box;align-items:center;justify-content:center;gap:4px;background-color:#fde8ea;background-color:light-dark(#fde8ea,#66000a);color:#ec1a2e;color:light-dark(#ec1a2e,#ec1a2e)}@media(min-width:768px){.eRfgdl{width:auto;justify-content:flex-start}}.icmspM{display:block;font:bold 14px/20px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif;text-decoration-line:underline;margin-block:0;text-align:center}.jEzKon{display:inline-flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center;gap:4px}.jEzKon:hover .sc-hez36s-5,.jEzKon:hover .sc-a5wy94-0{color:#ac2a2c;color:light-dark(#ac2a2c,#f58992)}.kxbAkl{font:normal 16px/20px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}.igdyzJ{display:flex;width:100%;flex-direction:column}@media(min-width:768px){.igdyzJ{display:flow-root;gap:24px;transition:margin-bottom .3s ease-in-out}}.jDeUSg{display:flex;width:100%;flex-direction:column;align-items:center;justify-content:center}@media(min-width:768px){.jDeUSg{position:relative;z-index:1;width:212px;flex-shrink:0;justify-content:flex-start;margin-left:24px;float:right}}.bBLSBr{display:none;flex-direction:row;align-items:center;justify-content:center;gap:8px;margin-top:8px}@media(min-width:768px){.bBLSBr{display:flex;margin-top:12px}}.DIgLQ{display:flex;width:100%;align-items:center;justify-content:center;gap:8px;margin-top:8px;margin-bottom:12px}@media(min-width:768px){.DIgLQ{display:none}}@media(min-width:768px){.cPkZJS{order:-1}}.fJelbS .sc-aja53j-5::after{--fade-from:rgba(253,232,234,0);--fade-mid:rgba(253,232,234,0.5);--fade-to:#fde8ea}@media(min-width:360px){.fJelbS .sc-aja53j-5 .sc-aja53j-7{display:none}}@supports(color:light-dark(red,red)){.fJelbS .sc-aja53j-5::after{--fade-from:light-dark(rgba(253,232,234,0),rgba(102,0,10,0))}}@supports(color:light-dark(red,red)){.fJelbS .sc-aja53j-5::after{--fade-mid:light-dark(rgba(253,232,234,0.5),rgba(102,0,10,0.5))}}@supports(color:light-dark(red,red)){.fJelbS .sc-aja53j-5::after{--fade-to:light-dark(#fde8ea,#66000a)}}.kGYWZt{margin:0 0 24px;font:normal 16px/20px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}.eXohla{font:bold 16px/20px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}.bXaOEb{display:flex;min-height:600px;justify-content:center}@media(min-width:1000px){.bXaOEb{min-height:450px}}.dlrgtE{min-height:600px}@media(min-width:1000px){.dlrgtE{min-height:450px}}.dlrgtE.mobile-only{display:block}@media(min-width:1000px){.dlrgtE.mobile-only{display:none}}.dlrgtE.desktop-only{display:none}@media(min-width:1000px){.dlrgtE.desktop-only{display:block;margin-bottom:16px}}.dlrgtE.desktop-only+p{margin-top:0}.dlrgtE .third-party-ad{position:sticky;top:16px}.fhuRbW{width:100%;flex-grow:1}.fhuRbW .social-share{width:100%;padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:20px}@media(min-width:768px){.fhuRbW .social-share{justify-content:flex-start}}.fhuRbW .social-share.sticky{display:none}@media(min-width:1000px){.fhuRbW .social-share.sticky{display:flex;position:sticky;top:14px;width:34px;flex-direction:column;padding-top:0;margin-top:0;margin-left:-25%}.fhuRbW .social-share.sticky .sc-mgcah7-0{margin:0 0 16px}.article-feature-video .fhuRbW .social-share.sticky{margin-top:0}.article-feature:not(.article-feature-video) .fhuRbW .social-share.sticky{margin-top:35%}}.fhuRbW.sponsored-article img,.fhuRbW.sponsored-article video{width:100%;max-width:602px;height:auto}.fhuRbW.sponsored-article iframe{max-width:602px;max-height:400px}.fhuRbW .under-article-prompt-donations{padding-bottom:8px;margin-top:-3px}.fhuRbW .big-letter{--color:#222;display:flex;position:relative;width:0;height:0;align-items:center;justify-content:center;padding:40px;margin-top:22px;margin-right:12px;border:1px solid var(--color);float:left;font:normal 52px/1 'Indy Serif','Indy Serif Fallback',serif;text-transform:uppercase}.fhuRbW .big-letter:first-child{margin-top:6px}.fhuRbW .big-letter::before{position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;box-sizing:border-box;border:1px solid var(--color);border-radius:50%;content:''}.fhuRbW #taboola-below-article-1{min-height:2350px}@media(min-width:768px){.fhuRbW #taboola-below-article-1{min-height:3370px}}.fhuRbW #taboola-below-article-1-split-num-1{min-height:130px}@media(min-width:768px){.fhuRbW #taboola-below-article-1-split-num-1{min-height:415px}}.fhuRbW .sc-fwko30-0+.sc-1xtsh2b-0{margin-top:-16px}@media(min-width:768px){.fhuRbW{max-width:636px;margin:0}}@media(min-width:1000px){.fhuRbW{max-width:624px;margin:0}.fhuRbW.subscribed{max-width:636px}}@media(max-width:999px){.fhuRbW{padding-right:0}.fhuRbW .under-article-prompt-donations{margin-top:-18px}}.fhuRbW .anchor-nav-header{scroll-margin-top:79px}.fhuRbW .anchor-nav-header a{color:#222;color:light-dark(#222,#fff)}.fhuRbW .anchor-nav-header a:hover{color:#222;color:light-dark(#222,#fff)}@supports(color:light-dark(red,red)){.fhuRbW .big-letter{--color:light-dark(#222,#fff)}}.enFqNy{display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;justify-content:flex-start;margin-bottom:8px;color:#646464;color:light-dark(#646464,#bdbdbd);font:normal 16px/20px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}@media(min-width:768px){.enFqNy{width:70%;align-items:center;justify-content:flex-start;margin-bottom:0;font:normal 16px/24px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}}@media(min-width:1000px){.enFqNy{width:70%;margin-bottom:0}}.hWBwna{display:flex;height:20px;margin:0 12px 8px 0}.article-voices .hWBwna{height:auto}@media(min-width:425px){.article-voices .hWBwna{height:20px}}.hWBwna::before{display:inline-block;align-self:center;margin-top:1px;margin-right:12px;content:'\2022';transform:scale(1.5)}.hWBwna:first-child::before{content:none}@media(min-width:768px){.hWBwna{height:24px;margin-bottom:0}.hWBwna::before{margin-top:2px}}.hWBwna time{display:block}.hWBwna time::first-letter {text-transform:capitalize}.hYsQrG{display:inline-block;margin:0 12px 8px 0;color:#ec1a2e;color:light-dark(#ec1a2e,#ec1a2e);font:bold 16px/20px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif;letter-spacing:-0.5px}.hYsQrG:hover,.hYsQrG:active{color:#ac2a2c;color:light-dark(#ac2a2c,#ac2a2c)}@media(min-width:768px){.hYsQrG{margin-bottom:0}}.hSzzTd{margin:0 4px 8px 0}.hSzzTd::before{display:inline-block;margin-top:2px;margin-right:12px;color:#646464;color:light-dark(#646464,#bdbdbd);content:'\2022';transform:scale(1.5)}.hSzzTd:first-child::before{display:none}@media(min-width:768px){.hSzzTd{margin-bottom:0}}.fkbzZm{display:flex;justify-content:flex-start;padding:0;margin:0 0 16px}@media(min-width:768px){.fkbzZm{display:flex;width:30%;align-items:center;justify-content:flex-end;margin:0}}@media(min-width:1000px){.fkbzZm{width:30%}}.eTZxgZ{padding-top:0;border-top:0;border-bottom:0}@media(min-width:768px){.eTZxgZ{display:flex;flex-flow:row wrap;padding-bottom:16px}.eTZxgZ .sc-mzrbq8-0{order:1}.eTZxgZ .sc-mzrbq8-6{order:2}}@media(min-width:1000px){.eTZxgZ{flex-direction:row}}.hkkJDp{padding:16px 12px 12px;text-align:left;font:bold 14px/18px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}@media(min-width:768px){.hkkJDp{padding:16px 16px 12px}}.article-infact .hkkJDp{padding:16px 0}@media(min-width:1000px){.hkkJDp{padding:24px 0 19px}.article-feature .hkkJDp{max-width:968px;margin:0 auto}}.hkkJDp a{color:#222;color:light-dark(#222,#fff)}.hkkJDp a:hover{color:#ac2a2c;color:light-dark(#ac2a2c,#f58992)}.hkkJDp a:hover::after{color:#222;color:light-dark(#222,#fff)}.hkkJDp a::after{margin-right:4px;margin-left:4px;content:'>'}.hkkJDp a:last-child::after{display:none}.hMldFc{margin:0 0 20px;letter-spacing:0}.bWngPc{margin:0;color:#646464;color:light-dark(#646464,#bdbdbd);font:normal 16px/20px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}@media(min-width:768px){.bWngPc{font:normal 18px/22px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}}@media(min-width:1000px){.bWngPc{font:normal 20px/24px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}}.bWngPc p{font:inherit}.article-feature .bWngPc a{font-weight:bold}.dnkfpp{max-width:968px;margin:0 auto;background:#fff;background:light-dark(#fff,#000)}@media(min-width:1000px){.dnkfpp{padding:0 16px}.parallax .dnkfpp{max-width:1240px}}.Rdknw{font:bold 32px/36px 'Indy Serif','Indy Serif Fallback',serif;letter-spacing:-0.0156em}@media(min-width:768px){.Rdknw{font:bold 44px/48px 'Indy Serif','Indy Serif Fallback',serif;letter-spacing:-0.0113em}}@media(min-width:1000px){.Rdknw{font:bold 54px/58px 'Indy Serif','Indy Serif Fallback',serif;letter-spacing:-0.0092em}}.gwrTGe .sc-qvufca-0{margin:0 12px}@media(min-width:768px){.gwrTGe .sc-qvufca-0{max-width:968px;margin-right:16px;margin-left:16px}}@media(min-width:1000px){.gwrTGe .sc-qvufca-0{margin-right:auto;margin-left:auto}}.gwrTGe .sc-qvufca-2{margin-bottom:16px;color:#222;color:light-dark(#222,#fff)}@media(min-width:768px){.gwrTGe .sc-qvufca-2{margin-bottom:18px}}@media(min-width:1000px){.gwrTGe .sc-qvufca-2{margin-top:0}}.article-feature .gwrTGe .sc-qvufca-2{text-align:center}@media(min-width:1000px){.article-feature .gwrTGe .sc-qvufca-2{max-width:968px}}.gwrTGe .sc-aeekvc-0{margin-bottom:16px}@media(min-width:1000px){.gwrTGe .sc-aeekvc-0{max-width:968px}}.gwrTGe .sc-aeekvc-0 p{margin-top:0}@media(min-width:768px){.gwrTGe .sc-aeekvc-0 p{margin-bottom:16px}}@media(min-width:2560px){.gwrTGe .sc-aeekvc-0 p{margin-bottom:12px}}.iExVwO{overflow:hidden;height:0;color:transparent}.VkEbW{max-width:100%;margin:0 0 20px}.VkEbW.sticky{position:sticky;top:16px}.jpuEXf{min-height:600px}.jpuEXf #mpu1,.jpuEXf #sidebar1{position:sticky;top:16px}.bIVNVq{min-height:250px}.dcXsiQ{max-width:100%}.loNRDw{margin:0 0 6px;color:#646464;color:light-dark(#646464,#bdbdbd);font-family:'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif;font-size:15px}.ezMsnK{margin:0 0 12px}.iIPWMQ{height:380px}.gXoWZo{width:100%;height:51px}.hjNIYD{margin-bottom:16px;border-bottom:1px solid #919191;border-bottom:1px solid light-dark(#919191,#646464)}.vzWDo{margin-bottom:16px}.vzWDo [role='listitem']{position:relative;margin-bottom:12px;border-bottom:1px solid #d3d3d3;border-bottom:1px solid light-dark(#d3d3d3,#919191)}.vzWDo [role='listitem'] .sc-u4n1j-0{display:flex;position:absolute;bottom:16px;left:10px;width:32px;height:32px;align-items:center;justify-content:center;border-radius:50%;background-color:#ec1a2e;background-color:light-dark(#ec1a2e,#ec1a2e)}.vzWDo [role='listitem'] .sc-u4n1j-0>svg{width:90%;fill:#fff;fill:light-dark(#fff,#000);stroke:transparent}.vzWDo [role='listitem']:first-child{display:block;padding-bottom:0;margin-bottom:12px}.vzWDo [role='listitem']:first-child .sc-u4n1j-0{top:-15px;bottom:auto;left:12px}.vzWDo [role='listitem']:first-child>*:first-child{display:block;width:100%;height:205px}.vzWDo [role='listitem']:first-child>*:last-child{--content-bg:#222;--content-bg-opaque:rgba(34,34,34,0.7);position:absolute;bottom:0;width:100%;padding:28px 12px 12px;background:linear-gradient(to top,var(--content-bg) 70%,var(--content-bg-opaque) 100%) no-repeat;color:#fff;color:light-dark(#fff,#222);font-size:17px;font-weight:bold}.vzWDo [role='listitem']:last-child{margin-bottom:0;border-bottom:0 none}@supports(color:light-dark(red,red)){.vzWDo [role='listitem']:first-child>*:last-child{--content-bg:light-dark(#222,#000)}}@supports(color:light-dark(red,red)){.vzWDo [role='listitem']:first-child>*:last-child{--content-bg-opaque:light-dark(rgba(34,34,34,0.7),rgba(0,0,0,0.7))}}.clClJO{min-height:1924px}@media(max-width:767px){.clClJO{display:none}}.doEDPw{width:308px}.doEDPw.hidden{display:none}@media(max-width:999px){.doEDPw{display:none}}.article-liveblog .ebbjSB{background-color:#f7f7f7;background-color:light-dark(#f7f7f7,#222)}.ghFVC{justify-content:center}.clCHwE{justify-content:center}
Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.
Not now Yes please
News UK UK Politics Rishi Sunak accused of breaking climate vow with new plan to drill more oil and gas Plan to boost drilling in North Sea ‘utterly bewildering’, say campaigners
The Tory leadership contender has set out plans to extract more domestic fossil fuels (Reuters) Your support helps us to tell the story From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference. Read more Rishi Sunak has been accused of undermining the government’s climate policy as he vowed to boost the production of oil and gas in the North Sea through a new deregulation drive.
The Tory leadership contender has set out plans to extract more domestic fossil fuels, claiming that he will order a new licensing round for oil and gas drilling permits “immediately” – with a further round from 2024 – if he becomes PM.
But climate campaigners told The Independent that his proposals are “utterly bewildering”. They argued that the proposals do nothing to help cut soaring energy bills , and put Mr Sunak’s commitment to the legal target of cutting emissions to zero by 2050 in doubt.
Jamie Peters, of Friends of the Earth, said Mr Sunak’s plan was “inconsistent” with his pledge to act on climate change , adding: “To announce plans for more oil and gas extraction as the country bakes for the second time this year ... is utterly bewildering.”
Greenpeace UK’s policy director, Doug Parr, said expanding oil and gas production “will do nothing to bring down bills this decade, and probably won’t ever”, adding: “Has Rishi Sunak just been sat under an air conditioning unit all day?”
Pointing to another wave of soaring temperatures, wildfires and drought across England, Mr Parr said: “His plans for energy independence have completely ignored the fact that we’re also grappling with a climate crisis.”
Tessa Khan, director of Uplift, an anti-fossil-fuel campaign group, said Mr Sunak’s proposal “isn’t a serious plan for solving the energy price crisis” – saying new renewable projects could be up and running far more quickly.
The climate campaigner said new licensing of oil and gas fields would likely take “decades” before they produced anything, and would “only serve to lock us into an expensive source of energy for far, far longer than is necessary”.
Mr Sunak’s campaign team said he would “deregulate” and “drive up North Sea gas production”, vowing to change the rules about the kind of gas that can be extracted in order to boost production from this winter.
As part of a plan to make Britain “energy independent” by 2045, Mr Sunak also pledged to allow more fracking, so long as the controversial drilling of shale gas gets local consent, as well as to reform licensing regimes to scale up offshore wind and nuclear power. He has previously vowed to uphold a ban on new onshore wind projects.
Labour ’s shadow climate change secretary Ed Miliband said Mr Sunak’s plan won’t “tackle the bills” this autumn and winter, adding: “Both Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss just don’t get it when it comes to the scale of the emergency families are facing.”
Sir Keir Starmer has promised to set out on Monday a “comprehensive” plan to deal with rising energy bills, dismissing accusations that he has failed to offer a compelling alternative to the government’s position on the deepening cost of living crisis.
His party has pointed to new analysis showing that its “warm homes plan” to make properties more energy efficient would save over 19 million families more than £1,000 on their annual energy bill.
It follows fresh blue-on-blue fighting between senior Tories in the increasingly bitter race to find Boris Johnson’s successor.
Robert Buckland has become the first cabinet minister to switch his support from Mr Sunak to Ms Truss in the Tory leadership race. The Welsh secretary wrote in the Telegraph that he was convinced by Ms Truss’s plans for a “high-growth” economy.
Deputy PM Dominic Raab, a Sunak backer, denied that the former chancellor had behaved treacherously towards the outgoing prime minister, and claimed that Ms Truss had been drumming up support for a leadership bid at her “Fizz for Liz” champagne dinner last year.
“Anyone who thinks Rishi stabbed Boris in the back is kidding themselves,” Mr Raab told The Times on Saturday. “Rishi worked hard to make the relationship with the prime minister work.”
But culture secretary Nadine Dorries fired back at Mr Raab on Twitter, saying: “Liz may have had drinks with MPs – but she did not resign her job, walk away, furtively campaign with MPs for votes, register a website, and was not campaign-ready or part of a planned coup.”
The latest campaign squabbles come as a poll for The Independent found Ms Truss comfortably out in front in support among Tory voters. Ms Truss is favoured by 49 per cent of those who vote for the party, ahead of Mr Sunak on 25 per cent, according to the Savanta ComRes poll.
Thank you for registering Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in Please refresh your browser to be logged in
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments