Reform UK Urges North Sea Oil and Gas Approvals

Reform UK leader Richard Tice urged the UK government on Tuesday to approve all pending North Sea oil and gas drilling consents, including the controversial Rosebank and Jackdaw fields, as part of a broader push to boost domestic energy production and reduce reliance on imports. Speaking at a press conference in Aberdeen, Tice, the party's energy spokesperson, announced a four-point plan to maximize extraction of the UK's oil and gas reserves, arguing it would create jobs, lower energy bills and enhance security amid global tensions.

Tice highlighted the Rosebank oil field off Shetland and the Jackdaw gas field as priorities, despite opposition from environmental groups concerned about their carbon footprint. "Backing such projects is absolutely vital," Tice said, describing the move as a signal of confidence to the industry. He linked the call to recent spikes in energy prices tied to conflicts in the Gulf region, stating, "With everything that's going on in the world at the moment, has there ever been a more important time to understand the importance of having our own secure supply of energy?"

During the event, the lights briefly went out in a staged demonstration organized...