Transition to clean energy ‘race of our lifetime’, says Starmer – as he defends North Sea oil pledge | Politics News

Sir Keir Starmer has said the end of oil and gas extraction “has to happen eventually” and the “moment for decisive action is now”.

In a speech laying out his party’s green agenda, the Labour leader called the transition to clean energy “the race of our lifetime” as he sought to reassure industrial communities that his plans would not leave them behind.

Sir Keir said that 50,000 new jobs could be created in Scotland alone, amid a dispute with unions over his pledge to ban new North Sea oil and gas exploration.

“I know the ghosts industrial change unearths,” he told the audience in Leith.

“As a young lawyer, I worked with mining communities to challenge the Tories’ pit closure programme, but deep down we all know this has to happen eventually and that the only question is when.

“So in all candour, the reality is this, the moment for decisive action is now.”

Sir Keir said if we wait until North Sea oil and gas runs out “the opportunities this change can bring for Scotland and your community will pass us by, and that would be a historic mistake”.

Labour is pledging to take up to £1,400 off household bills and £53bn off energy bills for businesses by 2030.

Central to the plan is the party’s proposed new public body, GB Energy, which Sir Keir said would be a “down payment” for a “new Scotland and a new Britain”.