Kemi Badenoch insisted North Sea oil and gas can be the 'cornerstone of Britain's future' today.
The Tory leader vowed to bring 'common sense' to the Net Zero drive as she addressed an industry conference in Aberdeen.
Opening a clear dividing line with Labour, Mrs Badenoch made clear as much oil and gas should be extracted from the UK Continental Shelf as possible.
The intervention came amid concerns that the UK will have to import 80 per cent of its fossil fuels by 2030 without more investment. The level currently is around 60 per cent.
'Under the Conservatives, British energy will power British prosperity,' she said.
