Badenoch Launches North Sea Drilling Expansion Campaign

Kemi Badenoch, leader of the Conservative Party, launched a campaign on Monday urging the UK government to expand oil and gas extraction in the North Sea to address rising energy prices triggered by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Speaking from an oil rig off the coast of Aberdeen, Badenoch called for an end to the moratorium on new drilling licenses, the removal of the windfall tax on energy company profits, and increased financial support for the fossil fuel sector as part of her "Get Britain Drilling" initiative.

The push comes amid a global surge in oil prices following Iran's blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, which has heightened concerns over energy costs for British households and businesses. Badenoch argued that maximizing domestic reserves would enhance energy security, create jobs, and generate tax revenues that could help offset bills. "Drilling our own oil and gas is about energy security, it's about financial security, it's about national security," she said during the launch. "It's more jobs, good for business and provides tax revenues that could be used to bring down bills."

The Conservative proposals include scrapping value-added tax on energy bills for...