Domestic oil and gas are Britain’s best defence in the global energy crisis March 17, 2026 The conflict in Iran has highlighted the fragility of global supply chains and the necessity of energy self sufficiency, says Martin Copeland It has been just over two weeks since the US and Israel commenced military action in Iran, with acute consequences for energy, international trade and potentially the global economy. Normally, about 20 per [...]
Manufacturers warn of ‘fragile footing’ as Iran war threatens to hike costs March 16, 2026 UK manufacturing has started the year on “fragile footing,” with its economic standing likely to worsen due to the conflict in the Middle East, the sector’s industry has warned. A new report from Make UK revealed the sector is set to grow by just shy one one per cent in 2026, a modest rebound after [...]
Ed Miliband rejects ‘totally false’ calls to drill North Sea March 15, 2026 Ed Miliband has dismissed calls for the UK to exploit the North Sea’s oil supply, despite widespread calls to drill the area as fears of an energy shock rise amidst the war in the Middle East. The energy secretary said: “Some people want to go around and pretend that if we only we draw more [...]
Drill in Britain’s biggest oil field or risk energy crisis, Make UK tells Ed Miliband March 13, 2026 Drilling at Britain’s biggest undeveloped oil field must urgently be approved to avert a looming energy crisis, the UK’s manufacturers’ lobby group has told Ed Miliband. Make UK, which represents thousands of manufacturers from food producers to steelmakers, said the energy secretary must give the green light to production at Rosebank in the North Sea [...]
Reeves to meet North Sea oil bosses amid inflation ‘uncertainty’ March 3, 2026 Chancellor Rachel Reeves has revealed she will meet North Sea oil and gas bosses on Wednesday in London, with a market price surge putting the UK economy’s path towards lower inflation in jeopardy. Reeves told MPs during her Spring Statement that she would meet energy bosses from companies operating off Scotland as the government looks [...]
Sunak pushes deregulation as North Sea pressure grows March 1, 2026 Rishi Sunak has urged Rachel Reeves to go further and faster on deregulation to revive growth, as eight former UK energy ministers call on the government to rethink its stance on North Sea oil and gas. The former prime minister wrote in a Sunday Times column that Reeves deserved credit for delivering a Spring Statement [...]
Windfall taxes: Major North Sea jobs cuts revealed by oil and gas giant December 1, 2025 Around 100 offshore jobs are set to be cut by oil and gas firm Harbour Energy amid pressure from UK windfall taxes. The company, which is the UK’s largest oil and gas producer, has announced the proposed job losses as part of a review into its operations in this country. In a statement, managing director [...]
Everything we know about Rachel Reeves’ Budget – from mansions to milkshakes November 24, 2025 In the run-up to the mother of all Autumn Budgets to be delivered by Chancellor Rachel Reeves this week, tax rumours have run wild, infecting the minds of businesses and working Brits while adding to the sense of peril that a botched fiscal event could bring. Investors are running scared. Voters fear looming betrayal. Gamblers [...]
North Sea oil and gas production decline labelled an ’emergency’ November 5, 2025 Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has declared an oil and gas “emergency” in the North East of Scotland as she pushes the Labour government to overturn its ban on new oil and gas licenses. Badenoch has pledged to “get Britain drilling again” in a new campaign in partnership with the Scottish Conservatives. The announcement marks the [...]
North Sea oil services group Petrofac could ‘collapse by Monday’ October 25, 2025 Petroface, a North Sea oil and energy services group, could file for insolvency as early as Monday morning before markets open, it has been reported. The company’s board is reportedly holding emergency meetings over the weekend to discuss the possible collapse of the firm, putting around 2,000 jobs in Scotland under risk. It has also [...]