Overview

• The Conservative leader is expected to make “maximising extraction” the central goal for the North Sea and to scrap other mandates if the party wins power.
• The plan would remove “transition” from the North Sea Transition Authority and replace its 12-page remit with a directive to extract the maximum possible oil and gas.
• Badenoch is set to outline the proposals in an Aberdeen speech on Tuesday, citing weak output data, high energy prices and Norway’s approach as justification.
• The Labour government says it will not issue new licences to explore new fields because they would not reduce bills and would worsen the climate crisis.
• Offshore Energies UK supports greater domestic production for jobs and security, while former Conservative ministers caution that a Trump-style “drill” agenda could alienate voters.