Let the market fix the oil crisis Opinion The conflict in Iran is unlikely to lead to 1970s-style oil rationing, but policymakers must use price mechanisms and encourage domestic energy investment to insure against unpredictable escalations, says Andy Mayer In 1979 the Iranian Revolution sparked the ‘second oil crisis’ as the price of crude oil more than doubled to $40 per barrel. Although [...]
The Debate: should Britain abolish the monarchy? Opinion The disgrace of the former Prince Andrew has led some to question whether it’s time Britain abolished the monarchy altogether. Two experts make their cases in this week’s Debate. No: Constitutional monarchy is a shield against instability and tyranny The list of countries which retain a ceremonial constitutional monarchy contains many of the world’s most [...]
Vauxhall job losses are an inevitable result of destructive net zero policies Opinion The self-destructive petrol car ban has incentivised Vauxhall to destroy a productive car factory with potential to manufacture EVs instead of investing in green technology, says Andy Mayer The decision by Vauxhall owner Stellantis to close their Luton van production plant, risking 1,100 jobs, only nine months after announcing expansion plans that included a new [...]
Higher windfall taxes will be the death of investment in the North Sea July 31, 2024 Introducing Norway-level taxes without the accompanying investment incentives proves Labour’s energy policy is driven by ideology – not security, says Andy Mayer The day before the new Labour Chancellor Rachel Reeves sounded the death knell for Britain’s North Sea oil industry and put up to 200,000 workers on notice the ‘I’ newspaper led with the headline “Starfish and other seabed species [...]
Banning North Sea oil will only benefit Saudi Arabia July 16, 2024 Fossil fuels will remain part of the energy mix for decades to come – if we don’t extract our own resources from the North Sea, our loss will be other polluters’ gain, says Andy Mayer The new government’s plans to capitulate to the likes of Just Stop Oil by banning new drilling licences in the [...]
Omicron Covid measures show our politicians still don’t know how to take risks December 1, 2021 According to the government, the Omicron measures are “proportionate and responsible”. This may be true when compared to the pinnacle of pandemic command-and-control, when scotch eggs were served with every pint, outdoor gyms were taped up, and hikers were pursued across moors with drones. But make no mistake, with these new restrictions the state is [...]
