Ed Miliband's hairshirt energy policy causes suffering and threatens security
Ed Miliband's hairshirt energy policy causes suffering and endangers national security
If you shut down our means of producing fuel, it does not mean we need any less, we will just import more of what we need from abroad.
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Add us as preferred source Comments OPINION By Shadow Energy Secretary Claire Coutinho 10:07, Sat, Jun 20, 2026 Updated: 10:07, Sat, Jun 20, 2026 
Under Kemi Badenoch’s leadership, the Conservatives are clear that the oil and gas industry is part of our national security. Why should this country be importing its oil from Russia, or from Qatar when we could be extracting it at home? In an increasingly volatile world, we must secure our own energy sector. Yet Labour, and the SNP, have done the opposite. The people of Aberdeen South understood this clearly. And that is why they have elected a Conservative Member of Parliament.
If you shut down our means of producing fuel, it does not mean we need any less, we will just import more of what we need from abroad, from countries that often have lower environmental standards and higher emissions.
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We cannot allow our oil and gas industry to be demonised. It is a foundational industry which supports so many other jobs in chemicals, plastics or in our refineries. These are all crucial parts of any modern economy. Labour’s disastrous ban of new oil and gas licences and huge tax increases means some companies are paying marginal tax rates of over 100% This has left the sector in crisis.
This cannot go on. We have to face up to reality. The world is getting more dangerous and other countries like the US, the Middle East and Asia have not put punishing carbon taxes on their own industry. They are not shutting down their oil and gas industries – in fact, they are doing everything they can to maximise their own energy supplies.
We have the only Government in the world doing the opposite. Under Ed Miliband we will be more reliant on Putin for oil, on Modi for jet fuel, on Xi Jinping for solar panels and on Marine le Pen for electricity imports when our wind farms stop spinning.
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Under Labour, not a single exploration well was drilled in British waters last year – for the first time since 1964. And yet Norway, who share the very same basin, drilled 49 exploration wells and made 21 new discoveries last year. The consequence of this means that we are losing 1,000 jobs a month, leaving £25 billion in tax receipts in the ground, and becoming less more dependent on foreign imports.
Meanwhile the SNP have stood on the sidelines, cheering this effort along. For years they have done all they can to stifle the sector, based on misguided ideology alone.
There are not many places who are feeling the consequences of this political madness as much as Aberdeen. It was the oil and gas capital of Europe and could be again. But thanks to Ed Miliband’s hairshirt climate policy, it is a city suffering. An entire city, built over generations on drilling, production, equipment, and every associated trade cannot survive if we continue on this path.
Douglas Lumsden spent two decades working in oil and gas. He knows his city, he knows its people, and he knows what Labour’s policies mean for their jobs and livelihoods. Aberdeen South has spoken and elected him as their champion. Because it is only the Conservative Party, under Kemi Badenoch’s leadership, that has a serious plan to reverse this and get Britain Drilling Again.
First, end Labour’s ban on new licences, abandon the windfall tax and scrap the net zero duties which are hammering our oil and gas sector. We must fast-track permissions for Rosebank and the Jackdaw gas fields that have shamefully been sat on Ed Miliband’s desk gathering dust.
We need to look to wider industry too. We lost a third of our refineries last year alone. We have to stop imposing crippling, escalating carbon taxes that are killing British production all so we can import more of those very same goods from China, India, the US or the Middle East.
If we want energy security and better living standards we need to repeal the Climate Change Act, double down on nuclear and have a relentless focus on making electricity cheaper. The Conservatives’ Cheap Power Plan to cut electricity bills by 20% for businesses and to save households £200 would be a start.
Aberdeen sent a message on Thursday: back British oil and gas, back British workers, back Britain’s energy security. Only the Conservatives have a plan to deliver this.
Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price subsidising their life by livestreaming
Venezuela Fury and her husband Noah Price look to be making their own way in the world by raking it in from their lucrative social media accounts.
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury, 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year.
Since getting married and moving in together the couple have been earning thousands of pounds a month, livestreaming their life as newlyweds in their static caravan in the East Riding of Yorkshire.
And fans can't get enough of their regular life updates on TikTok and Kick, which have proved to be very profitable for the pair.
They look to be supporting themselves after Noah denied that he was given £5million by Venezuela's family as a wedding gift.
Despite his wife's huge family wealth, an estimated combined £160 million, Noah recently told his Kick followers that he 'pays for everything' for the couple.
Making light of the claims about Venezuela's millionaire financial status, Noah said: 'I actually pay for everything unfortunately. You'd expect the millionaire to pay for it wouldn't you.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price are earning thousands livestreaming their caravan life - after her new groom insisted he pays all the bills and denied he had £5m handout from her dad
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury , 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year
Venezuela then asked their fans: 'Do you think I am a millionaire?'
Noah joked: 'She isn't a secret millionaire guys', before she broke into song and sang: 'But I live like a millionaire!'
But it seems according to estimated calculations from their social media work, Noah and Venezuela can more than afford to support themselves.
Noah has been livestreaming on platforms such as Kick and TikTok, where viewers can send paid gifts or donations.
He was previously encouraging viewers to send gifts on his honeymoon during livestreams, suggesting this is one revenue stream.
Both Noah and Venezuela have built substantial followings on Instagram and TikTok. They can potentially earn money through sponsored posts, brand collaborations, affiliate links and creator payouts.
Kick allows its creators to take home 95 per cent of the £4.99 subscription cost that fans pay.
Streamers keep 100 per cent of direct tips and donations, minus minor standard payment processing fees.
It is unclear how many subscribers Noah currently has because this information is hidden, but he does have 7,200 followers which is publicly viewable.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million
In one video on their honeymoon, Noah asked his followers if they'd give them some more gifts now that they were married.
In a TikTok live viewed by 20,000 he said: 'Keep liking our videos people, keep sending gifts.'
After saying thank you to several of his followers he joked they should stick around on the livestream and 'watch Venezuela punch me in the mouth'.
The other half of the honeymooning couple said: 'I am, honestly!'
Noah previously confirmed that the pair don't share their finances after they were asked whether they have a shared bank account.
'She earns her money, I earn mine,' said Noah, as Venezuela joked: 'Yeah, what you gonna do about it.'
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'.
Meanwhile Venezuela is being eyed up by executives for a fly on the wall TV series.
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'
Boasting 1.3 million TikTok followers, Venezuela is already entertaining fans with her honest musings and candid moments, from cooking to kitting out her and Noah's static caravan home.
And following the success of the Netflix series At Home With The Furys, it is no wonder bosses are wanting to draw on the Fury popularity.
A TV insider said: 'The couple are not A-list celebrities but everyone has become obsessed with their love story.
'People are genuinely intrigued by them. Whether it’s the fact they have married so young, Venezuela’s famous family or their gypsy lifestyle, they have the ‘X factor'.
'Several TV executives think a proper fly-on-the-wall series following their lives as newlyweds in the gypsy community would be fascinating,' they told The Sun.
It is thought Netflix would be likely to produce the series due to their already established relationship with the Furys.
Venezuela's representatives told The Daily Mail: 'We have many offers on the table regarding Venezuela which we are discussing.'
