‘Eco zealots’ at Just Stop Oil are ‘writing Keir Starmer’s energy policy’, warns Rishi Sunak
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Labour’s energy policy is being written by eco-zealots and will benefit Vladimir Putin’s regime, Rishi Sunak has said.
Mr Sunak spoke out after it emerged that Labour had received £1.5 million from one of the biggest backers of Just Stop Oil.
Protests by the environmental group, which wants the government to halt new licences for the exploration of oil and other fossil fuels in the UK, include blocking roads and disrupting sporting events.
Sir Keir has previously described Just Stop Oil protesters as “arrogant” and “wrong” - and the party claims the group has no impact on its policy making.
But the Prime Minister rejected this - suggesting Labour’s North Sea oil and gas ban was very similar to the demands made by Just Stop Oil.
“My view is we should focus on energy security, not weakness and dependency which seems to be the Labour Party’s policy.
“They are putting ideology ahead of jobs, ahead of investment, and ahead of our energy security - I think that is wrong and it’s not the right policy for the UK.”
“The only people that benefit from Keir Starmer’s energy policy are dictators and autocrats like Vladimir Putin.”
Oliver Dowden, the Deputy Prime Minister, also attacked Labour over the donations and accused Sir Keir of copying Just Stop Oil’s “job-destroying” policies.
“Adopting their policy to block new oil and gas is job-destroying recklessness, and it’s hard-working people unfortunately who will be left paying the price,” he told the Commons.
But the plan has been vigorously attacked by the unions.
A spokeswoman for Sir Keir said: “Keir has been outspoken in his condemnation of Just Stop Oil who he believes have put lives and livelihoods at risk. The idea that they have influenced our policy is for the birds.
“The modern Labour Party doesn’t bow to fringe lobbies or extremists - every position we take and everything we do is firmly focused on providing security and opportunity for hard-working Brits.”
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