The debate on North Sea Oil and Gas has been increasingly polarised, following the latest Middle East crisis.
My name got dragged into this debate, in a way that misrepresented my view, so I felt it important that I respond. My position below was also printed in Politico on 30th March 2026.
Comments attributed to myself as part of this debate have been taken out of context and have been used in press materials and in the House of Commons in the last week (during the Opposition day debate on the North Sea).
Let me be clear: I do not support a strategy defined by “keeping Britain drilling” as an end in itself and as has been suggested.
The UK faces a profound energy transition challenge. It demands seriousness, honesty, and leadership—not the false comfort of narratives that suggest expanding North Sea production will materially lower household energy bills. It will not. Oil and gas produced in UK waters are traded on international markets, and prices are set globally – I have been very consistent on this in all my communication.
What I have done, is to try and build bridges. With Great British Energy based in Aberdeen, I
think I have a duty to do that – hence I have stated that the North Sea does matter and I do
believe in an All-energy transition.
It supports thousands of skilled jobs, underpins vital supply chains, and those skills are important to be able to build out the future of renewable energy; indeed, any wind farm build in the UK, has within it engineering and skills from the Oil and Gas industry. We should be proud of that.
Presenting further drilling as on its own maintaining jobs into the future misleads the public.
The truth is that the UK North Sea basin has been in decline since 1999, and is close to depletion. The best opportunity Aberdeen has for the continuing to remain at the forefront of the energy industry, is to become leaders in renewable energy – that is the future I want to support.
Polarising this debate—framing it as a choice between “drilling” and “net zero”—is divisive
and disingenuous. It risks delaying the very transition that is essential for long-term economic strength and energy security.
These are internationally volatile times, that require partnership with industry and serious leadership. My hope is that all parties will work with industry to support this – rather than politicise it in the pursuit of headlines.
A serious strategy starts not from where we have been—but from where the world is going and that is renewable energy.
We are not going to eradicate our need for oil at the click of a switch. A modern Petrol or Diesel car legally bought today is going to be around for probably twenty years or so. Many manufacturing processes require oil derived product as a component.
The “Green Agenda” has become politicised negatively in Britain and sadly the mere mention of it provokes a debate of polar opposites.
The middle east crisis and supply disruption requires proper and urgent discussion.
The development of new forms of Nuclear generation are coming on stream but slowly.
The Wind turbines (Windmill’s as someone calls them) are already providing a significant proportion of our energy requirements and can be expanded on shore as well as off. Advances in battery technology will make it easier for industrial and domestic consumers to balance their requirements.Solar panels both individual and neighbourhood could play a greater role in supply.
We could go much further in harnessing tidal flow to generate electricity.
We need to dramatically reduce the role of gas in our electricity generation requirement.
We should prioritise as much of the manufacturing as possible in the UK inspiring home supply instead of automatically buying off an international parts shelf.
That gives us control of the supply chain, potential better pricing, more jobs and an opportunity to export our expertise.
This is a world issue, an immense market and an opportunity for Britain to take the lead rather than sit it out on the side lines.
Very much agreed Don. On your last and very important point, about creating more UK manufacturing and supply chain capability through this energy transition – we are committed to that at GBE. See this announcement this morning:
https://www.gbe.gov.uk/blog/hydrogen-investment-fuels-south-yorkshires-next-industrial-era