<\/p>\n
Kemi Badenoch: \u2018government needs to get out of the way\u2019 (pic: DB Media Services)<\/p>\n
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch will today insist that drilling for more oil and gas in the North Sea would cut energy bills, despite evidence from industry experts that it will make no difference to the price.<\/p>\n
Ms Badenoch will be in Aberdeen arguing that her energy policy will save households \u00a3200 year because producing more oil and gas will raise revenue to enable cuts in carbon taxes and VAT.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Labour Party claim that more drilling in the North Sea won\u2019t take a penny off bills. This is nonsense,\u201d she will say.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe British oil and gas industry could provide billions of pounds of tax revenue that the Government could use to cut taxes and cut bills. <\/p>\n
\u201cThe industry just needs the Government to get out of the way and let them drill. The Conservatives are campaigning to Get Britain Drilling.\u201d<\/p>\n
Industry experts, including the chair of transition investment vehicle GB Energy Juergen Maier, have argued that producing more oil will not cut bills as it would be sold on international markets which would dictate the price. <\/p>\n
In a television interview on Sunday , Ms Badenoch appeared to backtrack by admitting that \u201cthe drilling isn\u2019t going to go directly onto people\u2019s bills\u201d. <\/p>\n
However, in a later statement she said that bills would come down by using the additional tax revenue raised from the increased oil output to cut VAT and green levies.<\/p>\n
\u201cBy drilling in the North Sea and scrapping Ed Miliband\u2019s crazy green taxes, our Cheap Power Plan would reduce bills by \u00a3200 for everyone,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cOnly the Conservatives have the plans and the team to deliver cheap energy, a stronger economy and a stronger country.\u201d<\/p>\n
Juergen Maier: more output will not cut bills<\/p>\n
Dan Tomlinson, Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury,\u00a0said the Tory leader\u2019s policy did not stack up.<\/p>\n
\u201cKemi Badenoch has admitted the central foundation of her energy plan won\u2019t bring bills down,\u201d he said. \u201cNow she says the Tories would scrap the windfall tax which is helping tackle the cost of living.<\/p>\n
\u201cFrom trying to plunge our troops headfirst into war without a plan, to her complete mess of an energy policy, Badenoch is proving time and again that she\u2019s completely out of her depth.<\/p>\n
\u201cEnergy bills are coming down this week for families thanks to the actions of this Labour Government \u2013 action that was opposed by the Tories and Reform. While the Tories and Reform chase headlines, this Labour Government will remain focused on easing the cost of living for families across Britain.\u201d \u00a0<\/p>\n
Chancellor Rachel Reeves will today argue that the\u00a0only\u00a0way to bring bills down by investing\u00a0in clean, homegrown power that reduces exposure to volatile global gas markets.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She will encourage the G7 to follow the UK\u2019s lead by accelerating investment in renewables and nuclear, not by continuing on the rollercoaster of global oil and gas prices.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, First Minister and SNP leader John Swinney , has said that a re-elected SNP Government will demand that Scotland\u2019s energy is in Scotland\u2019s hands \u201con day one\u201d to allow for immediate action to bring energy bills down.<\/p>\n
John Swinney: Section 30 demand (pic: DB Media Services)<\/p>\n
The new government will draft a Section 30 order transferring power over energy to the Scottish Parliament and demand that the UK Government back it.<\/p>\n
The likelihood of that happening is close to zero, but Mr Swinney will use it to help make the case for independence.<\/p>\n
He said: \u201cScotland is one of the most energy rich countries in the world \u2013 but we pay some of the highest bills in Europe.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThat is because for decades, Scotland\u2019s energy wealth has flowed south to the Treasury rather than working for the people of Scotland.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe process of a referendum will take time, so I want to begin the journey to independence on day one of the new term with the immediate transfer of powers over our energy.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf Westminster will not act to bring down bills, they should get out of the way for a government that will.\u00a0 It\u2019s Scotland\u2019s energy \u2013 and it should be in Scotland\u2019s hands.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd if the UK Government refuse, it will only confirm that if we want to make Scotland\u2019s energy wealth work for Scotland and bring down bills, that is only available through the fresh start of independence that I am offering at this election.\u201d<\/p>\n
Scottish Labour finance spokesperson Michael Marra\u00a0described the idea as \u201chalf-baked\u201d and accused the SNP of squandering Scotland\u2019s clean energy potential for years by \u201cditching its plans for a publicly-owned energy company, selling off Scotland\u2019s seabeds on the cheap and breaking its green jobs pledge.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey can\u2019t build a ferry, they can\u2019t run our NHS, and they can\u2019t be trusted to keep their promises.<\/p>\n
\u201cJohn Swinney is not remotely serious about this half-baked plan \u2013 he just wants to avoid talking about this own record which has left Scots paying more and getting less.<\/p>\n
\t #Badenoch #insists #drilling #cut #energy #bills #Daily #Business<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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