Labour confirms plans to block all new North Sea oil and gas projects

Shadow work and pension secretary says details of how UK can become ‘world leader’ in green energy transition will be announced soon

Labour’s shadow work and pension secretary has confirmed the party’s plans to block all new domestic oil and gas developments if it wins power, instead proposing to invest heavily in renewable sources such as wind, and also in nuclear power.

Jonathan Ashworth said details would be announced soon when asked about a report in the Sunday Times, in which unnamed Labour sources outlined the proposal for Keir Starmer to make a bar on new North Sea projects one of his “national missions”.