Miatta Fahnbulleh’s own department has found that 61% of the public oppose Britain producing less of its own oil and gas if it means buying more from abroad. The DESNZ Public Attitudes Tracker, published this morning, shows opposition is up from 57% last year. Those strongly opposed rose from 37% to 43%, and just 13% back cutting oil and gas production…
The statement was: “How much do you agree or disagree with the following statement? The UK should produce less of its own oil and gas, even if that means we need to buy more fuel from other countries.” DESNZ removed its question on whether the public thinks Britain is on track for net zero by 2050 because it “may act as a proxy for other attitudinal questions”…
Other figures are worse for net zero zealots. 60% now rate the UK becoming self-sufficient and not buying fuel from other countries as very important, up from 49% a year ago. Energy from low-carbon sources came last of the four priorities tested, with only 38% rating it very highly important, down from 44% in 2024. This was after DESNZ added “e.g. renewable energy” to the option to help it along…
47% of homeowners are unlikely to install an air source heat pump, up from 35% in Winter 2021. Support for renewables has slid from 87% in Autumn 2021 to 79%, and strong support has dropped from 54% to 44%. Only 42% would be happy with a solar farm nearby, down from 54% in 2022…
On bills, 62% expect net zero to push up their living costs in the next year or two. Looking ten years ahead, 49% still expect costs to rise, against 26% who expect them to fall. So much for £300 off…
DESNZ also rewrote its pylons question this year, asking whether people would “support” new local infrastructure rather than whether they would be “happy” about it, so the result can’t be compared with previous years. Either way – Labour’s North Sea licence ban looks lonelier by the day…
There is a reported split in government as Miatta Fahnbulleh briefs against Rosebank oil field approval while Healey wants more drilling. Splits abound…
Robert Jenrick told a rally on Monday:
“They say Chancellors are either undertakers or bookies. This one is an ostrich – and when the Chancellor buries his head in the sand, the rest of us, we’re left staring at his you know what.”