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Energy 2025-11-12
12 November 2025
Lead MP
Claire Coutinho
Debate Type
General Debate
Tags
EconomyTaxationEmploymentClimate
Other Contributors: 55
At a Glance
Claire Coutinho raised concerns about energy 2025-11-12 in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
Opened the debate
The House calls on the Government to introduce a plan for cheap power by cutting public expenditure, removing the Carbon Tax from electricity generation and ending Renewable Obligation subsidies. The UK has the highest industrial electricity prices in the world and second-highest domestic prices. High power costs are holding back economic growth and making households poorer. Cheap energy is essential for AI sector expansion and electrification of heating and transport. Calls on the Government to stop Allocation Round 7 auction, notes three-quarters of energy needs met by oil and gas with vital contributions from North Sea industry.
Graham Stuart
Con
Beverley and Holderness
Acknowledges the strategic objective of being among countries with cheapest electricity prices in Europe by 2030s. Questions Labour’s abandonment of this goal.
Jim Allister
TUV
North Antrim
Questions whether motion extends to Northern Ireland and raises concerns about EU regulations introducing carbon border adjustment mechanism, noting its impact on Northern Ireland.
Luke Evans
Con
Hinckley and Bosworth
Draws parallels with health service private finance initiative, warning against locking in high future costs for children and country.
Andrew Murrison
Con
South West Wiltshire
Suggests consistency in managing contracts for difference and auctions, questioning the dismissal of interconnector between Morocco and UK as a reliable source of solar and wind energy.
Perran Moon
Lab
Camborne and Redruth
Challenges the right hon. Member to explain which party was in power during the cost of living crisis due to high energy prices.
Bernard Jenkin
Con
Harwich and North Essex
He supports Claire Coutinho's argument that the clean power 2030 action plan is ruinous for consumers. He highlights the additional costs associated with connecting dispersed wind farms across the North Sea, which are ultimately borne by consumers.
Reiterates her arguments and addresses questions about the high energy prices, noting that 40% of electricity prices are from wholesale costs while 60% cover fixed costs such as building networks and switching off wind farms during high winds. She emphasises the need to address these issues before it's too late.
Saqib Bhatti
Con
Meriden and Solihull East
Supports Claire Coutinho by highlighting concerns over constituents facing higher bills due to Labour policies, emphasising that this is a result of political choices rather than necessity.
Bill Esterson
Lab
Sefton Central
Responds by questioning the merit in discussing some proposals on a cross-party basis and points out that high energy costs were an issue during previous Conservative administrations as well, challenging Coutinho to explain why it is so difficult for Labour to address these issues.
Bath
Argues that the main problem with high energy bills is the reliance on gas for electricity production and suggests decoupling electricity from gas prices as a solution.
Harriet Cross
Con
Gordon and Buchan
Asked if the Minister remembers what else happened in 2022 that might have impacted gas prices, specifically mentioning an event around February time.
Graham Stuart
Con
Not specified
Challenged the Minister's claim about the Conservatives' record on renewables. Stated that less than 7% of electricity came from renewables in 2010, but by 2024 it was around 50%, questioning the Minister's criticism as a falsehood.
Matt Rodda
Lab
Reading Central
Commended the Minister for his speech and asked about statistics regarding solar farm approvals under different Governments. Suggested that more solar projects were approved in the first few weeks of the new Labour Government than in the whole term of the last Conservative Government.
Claire Coutinho
Lab
Not specified
Asked about costs related to wind farms being turned off due to high winds. Mentioned Ofgem's price cap and the £1 billion spent on constraint payments this year, projected to rise to £8 billion by 2030.
Stuart Anderson
Con
South Shropshire
Asked for clarification or additional information from the Minister regarding specific points in his speech.
Dave Doogan
SNP
Angus and Perthshire Glens
Questioned Labour's commitment to lowering energy bills by £300, suggesting it is an indeterminate point in the future. Criticised GB Energy for not delivering 1,000 jobs as initially promised.
Perran Moon
Con
Not specified
Suggested that Robert Gordon University estimates show that 90% of UK’s oil and gas workforce have skills transferable to offshore renewables, asking the Minister if these jobs could be sent to Cornwall.
Bradley Thomas
Con
Bromsgrove
Asked for clarification or additional information from the Minister regarding specific points in his speech.
Harriet Cross
Con
Gordon and Buchan
Questioned the Minister about his stance on the oil and gas sector, specifically jobs, investment, and revenue generated. Asked which part of it he does not support or want to protect during transition.
Bernard Jenkin
Con
Not specified
Asked why the Government pursues policies that import liquefied natural gas rather than producing their own, stating this is self-harming and worsens the trade deficit.
Paul Waugh
Lab/Co-op
Rochdale
Critiqued the Conservative party's shift on climate change, referencing former leadership statements in support of net zero. He cited Boris Johnson's statement about not seeing a massive leap in support for the Conservatives based on bashing the green agenda.
Martin McCluskey
Con
Responded to Paul Waugh by highlighting quotes from former Conservative members supporting net zero and environmental protection. He criticised the current shift as abandoning long-term commitments in favour of short-term political interests.
Suella Braverman
Con
Fareham and Waterlooville
Asked the minister to address evidence from energy companies that green levies were causing energy bills to rise, suggesting that reducing carbon taxes would be a better solution.
James Naish
Lab
Rushcliffe
Acknowledged the minister's points but noted Theresa May’s government closing gas storage facilities in 2017 as an example of lacking long-term vision. He agreed that moving off gas to clean power is necessary.
Highlighted concerns about high electricity prices and the role of carbon taxes, arguing for a reduction in these levies.
Gareth Snell
Lab/Co-op
Stoke-on-Trent Central
Requested that the ceramics sector be included in the supercharger scheme to reduce electrical costs for energy-intensive industries facing job losses.
Luke Evans
Con
Torfaen
Asked about Liberal Democrat funding sources and accused them of double spending. Highlighted that the Labour party struggles with defining their policy specifics regarding taxation.
Claire Coutinho
Lab
East Surrey
Disagreed with the notion that renewables are cheap, stressing the initial cost burden on consumers despite long-term benefits.
Graham Stuart
Con
Beverley and Holderness
Questioned Tim Farron's proposal to break the link between gas and electricity prices, challenging him for examples of successful models abroad like France and Spain. Suggested that decoupling energy prices from gas is unrealistic without clear strategies.
Andrew Lewin
Lab
Welwyn Hatfield
Critiqued the Conservative motion as defeatist, noting its failure to address pressing climate issues highlighted by recent extreme weather events and international concerns over global heating limits.
Bill Esterson
Lab
Sefton Central
The Conservatives privatised the national grid in 1989, warned at the time that it would not lead to massive investment from the private sector. This lack of investment over 40 years is causing high energy bills today.
Dave Doogan
Lab
Glasgow North East
Asked Andrew Lewin about his campaign promises to lower constituents' energy bills by £300, and questioned how that aligns with current policies.
Stuart Anderson
Con
South Shropshire
Energy prices are unsustainable and need to come down. The net zero target is not achievable and will be reversed in the coming years due to reliance on imported energy and rare earth metals from China. Focus should be on defence, food security, and national resilience rather than rapid transition to renewables.
Perran Moon
Lab
Delyn
Asked Stuart Anderson about why the previous government did not invest in critical minerals like rare earth metals, highlighting that China has dominated this market for decades.
Jeevun Sandher
Lab
Loughborough
The country faces an affordability crisis with high energy and housing bills, leading to loss of faith in democracy. Labour aims for cleaner and cheaper energy to support families and future generations.
Harriet Cross
Lab
Cross argues that projections show fully utilising North sea oil and gas could cover half our energy needs up to 2050, far more than five years-worth. She questions the logic of increasing imports if only a limited supply remains.
Gareth Snell
Lab
Snell highlights that Stoke-on-Trent is ranked first in fuel poverty and emphasises the need for both reducing overall energy costs and improving home insulation to reduce consumption and lower bills.
Katie Lam
Con
Weald of Kent
Lam argues against Labour’s plan, stating that no industrialised country has succeeded without cheap, abundant energy. She claims the current Government's taxes are increasing household energy bills and harming businesses by making them more reliant on imports.
Perran Moon
Lab
Camborne and Redruth
Moon criticises previous Conservative government for blocking wind power projects, failing to invest in nuclear and critical minerals necessary for a sustainable transition. He emphasises Cornwall's potential for renewable energy sources.
Perran Moon
Con
Falmouth and Camborne
He is a strong advocate for ground source heat pumps and calls for government support in the social housing sector. He criticises opposition parties for opposing green energy transition, highlighting the threat to sustainable, low-cost energy access.
Alison Griffiths
Con
Bognor Regis and Littlehampton
She argues that rising energy bills are a direct result of political choices by the Labour party. She highlights the impact on businesses in her constituency, particularly those struggling with high energy costs due to Chancellor's policies.
Rebecca Paul
Con
Reigate
She questions the effectiveness and affordability of the current net zero agenda, arguing that it is driving up global emissions as UK-based industries close down or relocate overseas. She emphasises carbon leakage and economic consequences such as reduced output in energy-intensive sectors.
Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey
He challenges the UK Government's record on energy policy, criticising it for destroying jobs and harming economic security. He calls for a rigorous evidence-led approach to North sea oil and gas projects, advocating against the Energy Profits Levy.
Aphra Brandreth
Con
Chester South and Eddisbury
The hon. Member addresses the rise in energy costs, citing government statistics showing that UK electricity prices are now among the world's highest, with 12.1 million households struggling to pay bills and 43% spending over 10% of their income on energy. She criticises the closure of North Sea oil and gas operations as an illogical move that will cost jobs and billions in lost economic value without delivering environmental benefits.
Asks for a chance to speak but is declined by the hon. Member who continues due to time constraints.
Newton Abbot
The speaker highlights the issue of higher energy bills and fuel poverty in his constituency, advocating for interventions in the electricity market design to decouple renewables from gas pricing mechanisms. He supports the introduction of contracts for difference but notes that these still rely on gas prices at the time of deal-making.
Andrew Bowie
Con
West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine
The hon. Member criticises Labour's failure to deliver on promised bill reductions, pointing out inconsistencies in their blaming volatile gas prices for rising bills when gas prices have since fallen.
Andrew Lewin
Lab
Welwyn Hatfield
This MP apologises and reads from the shadow Minister’s website, questioning if Andrew Bowie wants to scrap the Climate Change Act.
Claire Coutinho
Con
East Surrey
The policies of this Labour Government have led to a politically manufactured decline in the UK's oil and gas industry. This has resulted in job losses, increased reliance on imports, and higher energy costs for consumers.
Graham Stuart
Con
Beverley and Holderness
The Conservative party invested heavily in renewables but now faces high electricity prices due to the Climate Change Act. The party believes there needs to be a balance between decarbonisation and economic considerations.
St Austell and Newquay
Renewable energy sources like wind and sunlight are free once projects have been built, leading to significantly cheaper electricity compared to fossil fuels. The UK needs to build more renewables to reduce reliance on gas.
Bernard Jenkin
Con
Harwich and North Essex
The Conservative party advocates for a status quo approach in energy policy, emphasising the need to protect consumers from volatility of fossil fuels. The current grid infrastructure needs significant upgrades to support future energy demands.
The North sea has been in transition for a long time, and failing to recognise this leads to loss of jobs. The status quo cannot be sustained economically or practically, so we will set out our future energy plan for the North sea in coming weeks, recognising the importance of creating new jobs and driving forward investment in renewables, carbon capture and hydrogen. We support oil and gas industries but also recognise their limitations. There are two paths ahead: ambition for the country or barely managed decline; building for the future or nostalgia. All want energy security, economic growth, cheaper bills and to improve people’s lives, what divides us is our ambition.
Nigel Huddleston
Con
Droitwich and Evesham
Asked for a statement from the Prime Minister regarding his involvement in appointing the Independent Football Regulator. The Secretary of State was unable to provide clear answers, and it was later revealed that the Prime Minister signed off on the appointment which the PM's ethics adviser called regrettable.
Graham Stuart
Con
Beverley and Holderness
Asked for clarification on whether Mr Speaker has a role in holding the Prime Minister accountable if he breached the ministerial code regarding his involvement in appointing the Independent Football Regulator. Stressed that there are many avenues available to continue this conversation.
Government Response
The Minister responds by moving an amendment welcoming the extension of the Warm Homes Discount, supporting the creation of Great British Energy, highlighting nuclear building programmes, and acknowledging the Government's clean power mission. The amendment aims to recognise progress in energy security and climate leadership. The Minister defended the Labour Government's energy policy, highlighting £60 billion of Government funding and £50 billion of private investment in clean, home-grown energy. He mentioned setting up Great British Energy, a publicly owned company installing solar panels on schools and hospitals to save money for key services. The Minister also addressed the oil and gas sector, acknowledging its importance but emphasising the need for transition due to falling production and workforce losses during Conservative rule. Defended green levies as necessary investment in grid infrastructure, supporting long-term vision on clean energy. Announced plans to extend energy skills passports and publish a response to the North sea energy future consultation. The Government's approach is based on a long-term credible plan, not simplistic solutions. The UK needs to build more renewables and upgrade its grid infrastructure to reduce reliance on gas and protect consumers from volatility.
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