LONDON, Mar 25 : British Prime Minister Keir Starmer faced a heated exchange with Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch on Wednesday over North Sea oil and gas licences during the weekly Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs) session, as energy prices remain a top concern for households across the UK.
Badenoch pressed Starmer on whether he would approve licences for the Rosebank oil field and Jackdaw gas field in the North Sea, arguing that action was needed to show the government was serious about tackling rising bills.
Starmer responded that the matter falls under the ambit of the Energy Secretary, emphasising that the long-term solution to controlling energy costs lies in expanding renewable sources alongside oil and gas.
“The legislation clearly assigns responsibility to the secretary of state, and the way forward is a balanced energy strategy that combines renewables with North Sea production,” Starmer said, noting that recent price spikes are largely linked to the ongoing US-Israeli conflict with Iran.
The session grew more dramatic as Reform UK MPs en masse staged a walkout, accusing Starmer of providing a “pathetic response” to party leader Nigel Farage’s question on small boat crossings at the UK border.
The disruption shifted attention back to debates on energy bills, with Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey voicing concern that government support may not be enough if the war in the Middle East drives household energy costs up by 500 this year.
Starmer assured MPs that energy bills would remain capped until the end of June and that further support measures would be implemented as needed.
Badenoch also criticized the Prime Minister for relying on legal processes, claiming he was “hiding behind the Energy Secretary” instead of making decisive choices.
Starmer countered that the same legislation had been used by the previous Conservative government to approve licences and that all decisions are guided by the rule of law and the country’s long-term interests.
Meanwhile, oil prices eased Wednesday, with Brent crude trading at $96.52 per barrel, down 3.7% from the previous close, following remarks by US President Donald Trump on potential negotiations with Iran.(UNI)
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