Sunak to use king's speech to announce new system to award oil and gas licences

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Rishi Sunak will this week announce legislation for a new annual system for awarding oil and gas licences as part of a highly political king's speech which the Conservatives hope will open up clear dividing lines with Labour.

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06 Nov 2023

The government said the plans would protect thousands of jobs and bolster energy security, reducing the UK’s reliance on imports from hostile foreign regimes such as Russia, even though the UK has committed to move away from fossil fuels.

The prime minister said the move would help Britain reach its climate commitment of net zero carbon emissions by 2050 in a “proportionate and realistic” way, with the new licenses contingent on specific tests he said would support the transition to net zero.

Sunak has already watered down the government’s climate targets, pushing back the deadline for selling new petrol and diesel cars and the phasing out of gas boilers, prompting furious condemnation from the automobile and energy industries.

The proposed new legislation could set a political trap for Labour, which has said it would