Reform UK’s Laila Cunningham was schooled about the reality of the energy industry in Britain during a debate on GB News.
Cunningham, who will be standing as Reform’s candidate in the next London Mayoral election, appeared opposite Geoff Hoon, who was defence secretary under Tony Blair.
The pair were discussing the topic of the UK’s energy industry and the looming issues that seem to be appearing on the horizon thanks to Donald Trump’s war in Iran.
Reform are well-known net zero haters and in the last few weeks have called for more drilling in the North Sea. The party claim this would give Britain more energy security and bring down energy bills.
As Cunningham put forward this case, Hoon completely dismantled her argument,
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He pointed out that more than 75% of the UK’s oil and gas fields in the North Sea had been exhausted, making the sea a “fading force as far as gas and oil is concerned.”
Hoon continued: “Every expert says so, the only people who appear to contradict that are Reform and frankly sadly the Conservative Party chasing Reform.”
When Cunningham made the predictable comparison with Norway, Hoon explained that their fields were not exhausted in the same way.
He accused the Cunningham of “making political points” and “not dealing with the reality of the North Sea”.
Hoon then went on to point out to her that the price of oil and gas is determined internationally, telling Cunningham: “You seem to think somehow that there is a magic well of oil sitting there in the North Sea that Britain can get at a price that you want to pay. It’s nonsense.”
When Cunningham argued it would give the UK more “resilience” in the face of a future crisis, Hoon pointed out that the North Sea gas fields had supplied just 36 days of gas over the 14-year period from 2010 to 2024.
You can watch the exchange below.
Recent research from the University of Oxford completely debunks Reform’s argument about the North Sea.
The research found that if the UK was powered entirely by clean energy, households could save as much as £441 annually on their energy bills.
Conversely, maximising oil and gas extraction from the North Sea would only save between £16 and £82 annually per household.
Former military leaders have also debunked the argument from Reform and the Tories that more North Sea drilling is the solution.