Energy supply and prices

There has been quite a bit of political discussion relating to energy supplies and prices lately, for example:

"Ramping up North Sea oil and gas is not a short-term solution to Europe's reliance on Russian supplies, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said.":

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotla...itics-60692928


"Mr Johnson said the UK was looking at using more domestic energy resources. ...
The PM made comments at a Downing Street news conference on Monday after Tory MPs urged him to increase UK gas production and rethink his climate policies over energy cost and supply fears.

Nearly 40 MPs have called for an end to a UK ban on fracking, a controversial method of shale gas mining. ...

Meanwhile some MPs from a Conservative group known as the Net Zero Scrutiny Group (NZSG) have been pushing for a rethink of the UK's net-zero policy.

It commits the UK to a legally binding target of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

Led by Tory MP Craig Mackinlay, the NZSG has warned of political consequences for Mr Johnson at the next election, should he stand by the policy.

The fracking letter to the prime minister was organised by Mr Mackinlay and former Brexit minister Steve Baker.

The letter came as Nigel Farage, the former Ukip and Brexit Party leader, announced the launch of a campaign to push for a Brexit-style referendum on the UK's net-zero target.":

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-60646124


Although not to everybody's taste, Farage has proved to be an effective campainer in the past, according to it's website, 'Vote Power, Not Poverty’ is a cross party, grassroots campaign made up of activists from different parties and from none.

https://votepowernotpoverty.uk/


Energy supply and prices to consumers seems to be a growing topic of debate, what do you think?

Mr. Boris and his team arestill here! And weeks/months ago you were all THROWING HIM OUT!
What a Shocker!.
Same old/Same old!

Anything that has a profound effect upon people's lives will always end up becoming a political football particularly when large sums of money are involved. Energy fits into that category perfectly. Whether it's to nationalise energy providers or privatise them; concentrate on renewables or carbon-based fuels or even whether to adopt or de-commission nuclear power plants the sums of money involved are enormous.

There is an old saying, or if there isn't there should be, that economics always trumps politics. In other words if governments can see a way to earn (or avoid spending) huge sums of money for the exchequer then any political ideals they may have expressed earlier will be dumped. Any allegations of betrayal or hypocrisy will be dealt with by spin doctors and will go away eventually. We can see an illustration of that in recent days with calls to open up more North Sea oil wells and to re-commence fracking despite earlier promises of moving to net-zero carbon emissions. Those calling for this will spin it as a way of insulating the UK from energy dependency from abroad. There is an element of truth in that but since energy prices are fixed on world markets it will not mean the UK can set its own prices even if it can guarantee its own supply.

The current energy price hikes are nothing but profiteering. This article is well worth a read; a word of warning though,it will make you mad as he*l. - https://www.taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/...ice-increases/

Martin Lewis also exposes some of the politics and profiteering going on - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oAweeDVzC6E&t=156s

One final point to illustrate how energy is political. During IndyRef1 the "No" side declared that the North Sea was a spent force so far as oil is concerned and that there was no more oil to be found. It suited them to say that then. Now, when circumstances have changed, the same people are advocating the exploitation of the vast un-tapped oil resources under the North Sea. Liars, the lot of them and just another example of why one should be wary of taking anything a politician says at face value.