Question
The Government spent two and a half years virtue signalling about the North sea. They said there was no future for oil and gas and had a ban on licences, as well as increasing taxation. The result has been 25,000 job losses—1,000 every month and counting—not because of an external shock, but because of a crisis 100% caused by Government policy. When will this Government leave their student politics behind, back British business and get us drilling again?50% point-scoring
Answer
The Conservative party’s policy towards the North sea was a study in incompetence. The reason we took the decision on Jackdaw last week was that the Conservative Government so messed up the process that we ended up in court.50% point-scoring
Verdict: RED (12/100)
The reply only partly answers the question. On whether the Government will reverse its North Sea policy, lift the ban on new licences, or resume drilling, and when, it mentions the Jackdaw decision and the court process but gives no clear position or timing. The claim that the Government's North Sea approach is virtue signalling is not addressed; the reply instead criticises the Conservatives' North Sea record. A member of the public would probably need to ask again for a specific commitment.
How we got there
| Question item | Coverage | Specificity | Rationale |
|---|---|---|---|
| When will the Government reverse its policy on North Sea oil and gas, including the ban on new licences, and resume drilling? | Partially Addressed | Generic | No statement says whether the Government will reverse the policy, lift the ban on new licences, or resume drilling, or when it would do so. Statement 2 touches the same subject area by referring to the Jackdaw decision and the court process, but it gives no position on the reversal or timing that was asked for. |
| Characterises the Government's North Sea energy approach as virtue signalling and student politics. | Not Addressed | Generic | The item is a characterisation of the Government's own North Sea approach as virtue signalling and student politics, and no statement defends, rebuts, or otherwise engages with that characterisation. Statement 1 only attacks the Conservatives' North Sea record, which does not respond to the claim made about the Government. |