Day 14 | Proposal 13
13
North Sea Oil & Gas
Domestic Energy Security
Current policy — Manifesto 1.1
Use Britain's domestic energy resources. Protect energy security during the transition.
Published Manifesto 1.1 policy. The sections below set out the proposal as published. Questions and challenges are open questions, not settled answers.
1. Introduction
Manifesto 1.1 proposes continued development of North Sea oil and gas where economically and environmentally appropriate.
The purpose is not permanent dependence on hydrocarbons, but greater energy security while Britain develops the technologies capable of replacing them.
2. The principle behind the proposal
Britain should not make itself unnecessarily dependent on imported energy while domestic resources remain available and appropriate to develop.
Continued North Sea production should therefore be treated as a transitional energy-security measure, alongside expanded nuclear power and the continued development of replacement technologies.
3. The policy commitment
Britain will continue developing North Sea oil and gas where economically and environmentally appropriate.
The objective is not permanent dependence on hydrocarbons. It is energy security while Britain develops the technologies capable of replacing them.
4. Four tests for domestic energy development
- Energy security: use domestic resources to reduce avoidable exposure to international supply shocks and unnecessary dependence on imported energy.
- Economic appropriateness: development should proceed where projects make economic sense. This is not a commitment to pursue every possible North Sea development regardless of cost.
- Environmental appropriateness: continued development is conditional rather than automatic. Environmental considerations must form part of decisions about whether projects proceed.
- Transition: North Sea oil and gas are not presented as Britain's permanent energy model. Replacement technologies and generating capacity must continue to be developed.
5. Not an unconditional expansion
This proposal does not specify production targets, promise unrestricted licensing, establish a licensing timetable, propose tax changes or set a fixed date on which North Sea production would end.
Economic conditions, environmental considerations, technological development and Britain's changing energy requirements should determine the pace and scale of future development.
6. Part of a wider energy programme
Proposal 13 does not stand alone. Manifesto 1.1's wider energy strategy combines:
- Pragmatic Net Zero: decarbonisation guided by affordability, security and competitiveness.
- Nuclear Britain: expanded nuclear power, SMRs, research, grid resilience and fuel security.
- Domestic Energy Security: continued North Sea development where economically and environmentally appropriate.
- Social Energy Tariff: targeted energy support for lower-income households.
- Abolition of Domestic Standing Charges: reforming how legitimate network and administration costs are recovered from households.
7. Energy security and household affordability
Greater domestic resilience can reduce Britain's exposure to international energy shocks and imported supply disruption.
This proposal does not claim that North Sea production automatically or immediately lowers household bills. Household affordability is addressed through the wider cost-of-living and energy programme, including the forthcoming Social Energy Tariff and abolition of domestic standing charges.
8. What still needs to be developed
The working manifesto establishes the principle rather than a complete implementation framework. Further development would need to determine:
- Economic test: how economic appropriateness should be assessed.
- Environmental tests: what environmental tests future projects should satisfy.
- Licensing and transition: how future licensing decisions fit Britain's energy transition.
- Replacement evidence: what evidence should determine the pace at which domestic hydrocarbons are replaced.
- Milestones: what measurable milestones demonstrate that replacement technologies can take a larger share of Britain's energy needs.
Questions for public scrutiny
Nothing in Manifesto 1.1 is presented as settled fact. These are open questions the proposal must be able to answer — they are not answered here.
- 01What economic test should determine whether further North Sea development is appropriate?
- 02What environmental conditions should continued development have to satisfy?
- 03Does using more domestic production during the transition strengthen energy security, or risk slowing the move away from hydrocarbons?
- 04What measurable milestones should determine when replacement technologies can take a larger share of Britain's energy needs?
Source: Manifesto 1.1 Complete Working Master, Policy 16 — Domestic Energy Security. This release is Day 14 / Proposal 13 in the campaign sequence. Journey days and public-release proposal numbers are not always the same.
Download the Manifesto 1.1 Complete Working Master (PDF)Read. Question. Challenge. Improve.
Questions, evidence, objections and alternatives are welcome. You do not have to agree to contribute.
Have Your Say
What is your view on this proposal?
Scrutiny, not endorsement. Disagreement is as useful here as support.
Responses are counted anonymously and the running totals are shown publicly beside each option. One response per device, changeable at any time.
Have an objection, question or better alternative?
Set out your argument. Serious challenges shape later versions of the manifesto.