‘Another HS2’ Sunak blasted over North Sea oil drilling announcement

More oil and gas projects are planned (Image: Getty ) The Prime Minister has been savaged over his new plans to expand oil and gas exploration in the North Sea with a campaign group branding it “another HS2”. Rishi Sunak has insisted that granting more than a hundred new licences for oil and gas extraction in the North Sea was “entirely consistent” with the UK’s net-zero commitments, despite climate campaigners coming out against the move. But Quentin Willson, Founder of FairCharge, the UK campaign for electric vehicles, blasted the Prime Minister’s decision to back fossil fuels as a move that was “only about the votes” and that the new projects could be “another HS2”.  He said: “We understand that the world can’t switch off fossil fuels instantly, it’s a transition. But it seems clear that the PM and Government are weaponising the move to a sustainable future to win votes. “News today of 100 plus oil licenses is hugely disappointing. We know that parts of North East Scotland are election battlegrounds for the Conservatives so this announcement is only about votes. “Carbon capture isn’t yet a proven technology and basing Government policy around a hugely expensive engineering project that isn’t tried or tested is a huge leap of faith. This feels like another HS2 to me.” Speaking about the need for oil and gas, the Prime Minister said: “If we’re going to need it, far better to have it here at home rather than shipping it here from half way around the world with two, three, four times, the amount of carbon emissions versus the oil and gas we have here at home. “So, it is entirely consistent with our plans to get to net zero.”