Sir Keir Starmer has been told he needs to “get serious” about economic growth and sign off two North Sea oil fields blocked by the courts.
Environmental campaign groups Greenpeace and Uplift brought the challenge over decisions to give approval to the Rosebank oil field north west of Shetland and the Jackdaw gas field off Aberdeen
Lord Ericht said the decision to grant consent was unlawful, and ruled the consent should be “reduced” (quashed) and reconsidered, something Green Party leader Carla Denyer called a “victory for common sense”.
The Prime Minister has been urged to overrule Net Zero Secretary Ed Miliband’s decision to withdraw Government legal support last year for the companies involved in a court battle.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch told MailOnline: “The Labour Government who were banging on about growth yesterday are too scared to fight for the oil and gas fields that deliver energy security and jobs for thousands of people.
“For the sake of our country, Keir Starmer needs to get serious. His actions so far are all hiking taxes and caving to the unions and the green lobby.”
Tory energy spokesman Andrew Bowie said it was “almost inevitable after Ed Miliband refused to defend the case in court” adding: “Our energy security, economy and thousands of jobs are being sacrificed on the altar of Labour’s eco zealotry. So much for growth.”
A Reform UK Scotland spokesman told GB News: “This ruling is a total disaster for the North East of Scotland and further puts at risk thousands of jobs due to idiotic ideology over common sense. The SNP, Labour, Greens and Tories are obsessed with Net Zero madness which will make this country poorer and dependent on foreign exports.
“Reform UK has been clear – we back extraction, the oil and gas sector and for this development to go ahead along with others. Labour’s abandonment of the North East has been shameful. Ian Murray now has a choice to make will he side with environmental extremists or workers in Scotland?”
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Policing minister says forces need funding to deal with XL Bullies
The policing minister said she recognised the “cost pressure” of the ban on XL bully dogs to police and said she wanted to make sure forces get the funding they need for it.
“This has been raised with me, actually, a few times, and it’s certainly something that I’m looking at and working with my colleagues in Defra on,” Dame Diana Johnson told LBC.
“But I recognise that’s another cost pressure for police forces, so absolutely I understand that.
“And as the police minister, I’m obviously keen to make sure that, you know, the police get the funding they need for these things that we’re asking them to do, because this is obviously quite a new development over the last few years.”
WATCH: Chopper’s Political Podcast: Brexit Anniversary special
Today marks the fifth anniversary of Britain leaving the European Union, while the UK remained in the single market, customs union and European Court of Justice until the completion of a transition phase on December 31, 2020.
GB News Political Editor Chris Hope has sat down with former Liberal Democrat leader Vince Cable, co-founder of the Taxpayers’ Alliance Matthew Elliott and journalist Quentin Letts to speak about the benefits and drawbacks of leaving the EU.
WATCH THE FULL EPISODE HERE.
Nigel Farage says Boris Johnson and Kemi Badenoch ‘never really believed’ in Brexit
Farage said the Tory Party is ‘dying’NIGEL FARAGE
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has said that Boris Johnson and Kemi Badenoch did not truly believe in Brexit.
The Clacton MP told Express: “Brexit has not been delivered and if I sat here five years ago I’d have said to you in five years’ time I’d be retired, I’d be out, I’d have done my bit, my 27 years of campaigning finally paid off.
“But I’m back and I’m back because we now need people in charge to deliver the Brexit we voted for who actually believe in it. We know Labour were opposed, Starmer wanted a second referendum, Liberal Democrats the same.
“But I frankly look now at Boris Johnson, Kemi Badenoch, all of these people, I don’t think they ever really believed in it. I think they used it as a vehicle to win a general election, which I helped them do. They never really believed in it.
“They always kind of saw it I think a bit more as damage limitation rather than an opportunity. I’m here to say I’m disappointed, you watching this will be disappointed, we can do so much better and we’re the guys to do it.”
Labour announces extra £100m investment into neighbourhood policing
The Government will invest an extra £100million into neighbourhood policing as it seeks to boost the number of officers on the ground.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said the investment in neighbourhood policing marked a “major turning point” for policing.
She said: “This major investment marks a turning point for policing in this country. By doubling extra neighbourhood funding to £200million, we are giving forces across the country what they need to put more officers and PCSOs where they’re needed most – on our streets and in our town centres.
“Every neighbourhood deserves dedicated officers who know their patch, understand residents’ concerns and can tackle problems before they escalate. This investment, alongside new powers we are bringing into law, will help prevent crime and protect our communities, which is at the heart of our Plan for Change.
“Restoring local policing will not happen overnight, but this funding boost will get more officers into our town centres and rural areas.”
