SIR Keir Starmer yesterday defended Labour’s Net Zero crusade, despite calls to increase North Sea drilling.
The PM brushed off pleas to make use of untapped oil and gas resources, insisting he would rather focus on eco energy.
He said: “What gives us control is homegrown energy, which is why we should go further in relation to renewables.
“Let’s get control of our own energy.”
It came as the UK’s wind energy boss, Tara Singh, yesterday conceded it was sensible to keep drilling for oil and gas, warning that Britain was dangerously exposed to global shocks.
She said: “It’s time to take energy out of the culture wars.
“Britain does not need the ongoing ideological argument about energy.
“It needs a practical one.
“We should back what works.
“And what works is more home-grown energy, with clean power leading the way.”
In Westminster, the PM announced a £53million support package for vulnerable households reliant on heating oil, as war in Iran sends prices soaring.
Tory Shadow Energy Secretary Claire Coutinho welcomed the move but accused Labour of putting eco-ideology ahead of providing economic relief through North Sea resources.
She said: “The uncomfortable truth is that this scheme will be funded by Labour’s tax rises on working people – tax hikes that wouldn’t be necessary if Ed Miliband hadn’t chosen to leave £25billion worth of tax revenue in the ground by shutting down the North Sea.”
The PM also refused to commit to blocking a fuel duty rise in September.
