Donald Trump has renewed his criticism of Sir Keir Starmer’s North Sea energy policy, accusing the Labour Government of squandering a “treasure chest” of oil and gas resources.
In a post on Truth Social on Tuesday morning, the US president claimed Labour’s heavy taxation was driving energy firms out of the UK and pushing up household energy bills.
He said the government’s approach was deterring investment and damaging Britain’s energy security at a time when families are already under financial strain.
Donald Trump has escalated his criticism of Sir Keir Starmer’s North Sea energy policy, just a day after meeting the Prime Minister at his Turnberry golf resort in Scotland.
Following an hour-long press conference with Sir Keir, Trump urged him to cut taxes and tackle illegal immigration if he wants to outperform Nigel Farage at the next general election.
Trump’s latest remarks come amid growing concern in the energy sector over Labour’s approach to North Sea oil and gas. Last year, the Government raised the windfall tax on oil and gas profits from 75% to 78% and extended it until 2030. The decision, combined with Energy Secretary Ed Miliband’s move to block all new drilling in the North Sea, has sparked warnings that investment is being driven out of the UK.
Trump accused the Labour Government of squandering Britain’s “treasure chest” of oil and gas and burdening households with higher energy bills due to over-taxation and overreliance on renewables. Earlier this month, he also called on Starmer to “get rid of the windmills” in Scotland and focus on boosting oil production in the North Sea.
Industry leaders have echoed these concerns. David Whitehouse, chief executive of Offshore Energies UK, said in a letter to the Prime Minister last week that the sector needs “a pragmatic conversation about the future of the North Sea which recognises and prioritises home-grown energy.” He stressed that decisions on licensing, taxation, and long-term strategy are “of national importance.”
