Party divisions over energy have deepened, but the need to move beyond fossil fuels has never been clearer
E
nergy has not been a prominent subject for discussion in the run-up to Thursday’s UK elections. In England this is logical enough, since the big policy decisions are taken by ministers in Westminster, not at council meetings. But the stances adopted by the new governments in Scotland and Wales matter a great deal. They will have an influence beyond their borders, helping to shape the national climate debate in the coming years.
In both nations, as in England, divisions have deepened as Conservatives have moved away from support for net zero and Reform UK has ramped up its opposition to renewables. Among Scottish parties, only the Greens are categorically against new fossil‑fuel developments in the North Sea. Under John Swinney, the Scottish National party’s earlier opposition to the Rosebank oilfield has softened in advance of the upcoming decision over whether it should go ahead. Scottish Labour, by contrast, has thrown its weight behind new nuclear power.
Across the UK, as in other countries, views about how best to respond to the latest spike in energy prices are split. Recent analysis by Carbon Brief found that fuel tax cuts were the most popular measures by governments around the world. Energy conservation policies such as fuel rationing have also been adopted in Asia, while Japan and Italy have increased their reliance on coal – at least temporarily. But European leaders including Sir Keir Starmer, and India’s Narendra Modi, have taken a different tack by stressing the need to hasten the transition towards renewables.
