David Vance SubstackRead More
Well, I didn’t see that one coming! The UK’s leading renewables trade body has just made a call for Energy Secretary Ed Miliband to restart and expand North Sea oil and gas drilling. They argue that would be a pragmatic step amidst global energy insecurity. This is welcome news especially if we want to keep the lights on!
Tara Singh, Chief Executive of RenewableUK—the organisation representing wind, solar, wave, tidal, and related clean energy industries—has urged the Labour government to adopt a more balanced approach to energy production. Less ideology, more practicality!
She has described increased domestic fossil fuel output as “entirely sensible,” emphasising that Britain remains vulnerable to overseas disruptions. Singh also highlighted the ongoing crisis in the Middle East, including recent geopolitical tensions and attacks (such as those linked to Iran and the Strait of Hormuz), which have driven up global oil and gas prices and exposed the UK’s reliance on imports.
“Britain would be stronger, safer and less exposed if it produces more home-grown energy of every kind,
Heresy! Whilst stressing that the primary focus must remain on accelerating green energy deployment—(particularly offshore wind, where the UK leads globally)—she acknowledged that the country “will still need gas well into the foreseeable future” for reliability, affordability, and a smooth transition to net zero.
Now I don’t believe that any such transition is remotely desirable but it’s reassuring that those leading Renewables aren’t quite as fanatical as Miliband.
Singh has called for renewables to be taken “out of the culture wars,” urging a fact-based, depoliticised debate rather than ideological divides. She advocated an “all-of-the-above” strategy where renewables, nuclear, and continued North Sea oil and gas complement one another.
“So it is entirely sensible to support continued domestic oil and gas production in the North Sea. If we do not produce that gas here, we will still need it.”
Now this from Singh comes at a critical moment for the floundering Labour government. Since coming to power, ministers have imposed a ban on new North Sea licensing rounds as part of the demented push toward net zero, drawing criticism from industry, unions, and opposition parties.
Calls for policy reversal are growing with strong arguments suggesting domestic production could shield us consumers from international market swings.
Naturally Mad Ed Miliband has pushed back firmly against any such suggestions, previously dismissing claims that more North Sea drilling would meaningfully lower household bills as “totally false.” He insists that the fastest route to energy security and lower costs lies in rapid renewables rollout, insulating the UK from fossil fuel price shocks through home-grown clean power. This guy is completely deluded and it is frightening that he has such power.
Singh underscores a potential pragmatic shift within parts of the green sector. It also reflects broader industry realism: even as the UK races toward decarbonisation, short- to medium-term fossil fuel needs persist amid global instability.
It’s crucial that Miliband is prevented from wrecking our energy needs through his ideological pursuit of Net Zero. When even the Renewables Industry expresses concerns about what he is doing that should be a lightbulb moment for us all!
