US Ambassador to the UK Warren Stephens has hit out publicly at Starmer over the UK’s soaring energy costs. Writing in the Telegraph, Stephens said he criticised Starmer for UK energy policy slowing down growth:
“Since arriving in London as US ambassador to the United Kingdom, the nation’s high energy costs have dominated my conversations with politicians, business leaders, and other diplomats.
In fact, in my first meeting with Prime Minister Starmer we discussed how the country could attract more foreign direct investment from the United States. My response was simple: lower your energy costs.”
The ambassador pointed out that energy prices are four times higher here than in the US for producers and twice as high for consumers. Stephens welcomed initial signs of a capitulation by the government on oil and gas drilling:
“By unlocking the potential of commercial nuclear energy and easing restrictions on North Sea oil and gas, Britain secure affordable, reliable energy from its own resources. This would not only reduce dependence on volatile global markets and unreliable international partners but also generate additional tax revenue to support public services… The Labour Government’s recent announcement that it will revise its approach to the North Sea is a welcome first step… Refusing to embrace domestic energy production in pursuit of artificial targets is not a sustainable strategy for an economy of the UK’s size and complexity.”
These interventions are usually heard behind closed doors and exceedingly rarely aired in public. Should have got rid of Miliband at the reshuffle…
Trump last night named Warren Stephens, Republican donor and CEO of investment banking firm Stephens Inc. as the United States’ ambassador to the UK. Arkansas-based Stephens is renowned as a “prominent cheerleader of free trade and entrepreneurship” in the US. He launched an educational multi-media series called “This is Capitalism” back in 2017 to stress the importance of the free market, especially to the young. Rachel Reeves might find the lessons instructive…
Stephens expounds such views as: “Capitalism and free trade have lifted more people out of poverty than any other economic system in history.” That’s while Labour insists on pushing the UK closer to the Trump-loathing EU. A strong appointment from Trump, how Starmer handles the relationship will be carefully noted…
Speaking to Sky News off the back of Rachel Reeves’ Air Passenger Duty hike, Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary said:
“Labour is dependent on those Red Wall seats, and yet every move she makes poisons economic growth and damages the UK’s recovery… it’s the Chancellor who stumbles from policy misstep to policy misstep… I think her policy decisions are incredibly stupid.”