Harriet Cross

Harriet Cross

Conservative — Gordon and Buchan

Speaking in the House of Commons on 11 November 2026

Debate

Rosebank Oilfield: Government Policy

Contribution

The oil and gas sector is much more than just Jackdaw or Rosebank. This is an industry that employs over 100,000 people and supports a supply chain that is so important to the roll-out of renewables, nuclear or other defence and energy technologies. It is a sector that the UK cannot do without, so we really need to look at the way in which it is undermined, talked down and seemingly penalised by politicians and the public when they do not believe that we need oil and gas, or believe that we can keep going as we are with oil and gas. Can the Minister please address how any credible Government can justify legislation to ban oil and gas licences when we need it, have it and will otherwise just be importing it? It will make us weaker, it will make our economy poorer and it will make too many people unemployed. That is the choice being made by this Government, and it is a choice that they are making through the Energy Independence Bill. They must know, deep down, that it is the wrong choice for the UK.

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