Eight former UK energy ministers from across the political spectrum have urged Prime Minister Keir Starmer to reverse restrictions on North Sea oil and gas production, warning that current policies threaten energy security. The cross-party group, including former Tory secretary Amber Rudd and Labour's Lord John Hutton, argue that the premature decline of UK oil and gas production stems from policy decisions rather than geology.

The ministers called for ending the windfall tax on the sector and lifting the ban on new exploration licenses. They argue that with substantial remaining resources, pursuing policies that increase energy imports makes no sense. Former minister Charles Hendry emphasized the need for new drilling licenses to maintain UK energy security, protect jobs, and attract investors back to the North Sea. The letter adds to growing pressure on the government from industry lobbyists, unions, and think tanks.

Labour maintains that the North Sea is in natural decline and argues that increasing drilling won't lower bills since energy prices are set internationally. The government insists its plans for the Energy Profits Levy provide certainty for investors while supporting the transition to clean energy. However, critics contend that current policies have accelerated the decline of the ageing basin, leaving the UK more reliant on imports for its 75 per cent of total energy needs still met by oil and gas.