Total disregard for future generations

Tories accused of fuelling the climate crisis by dishing out 27 more oil and gas licences

- DAN VEVERS

GREEN campaigners have slammed the Tory Government for dishing out 27 new oil and gas licences in the North Sea.

Activists branded the decision "an environmental disaster" and claimed Rishi Sunak is showing "total disregard for future generations".

But an industry trade body hailed the announcement as a "boost for UK energy security" that would help 200,000 UK workers whose jobs depend on the North Sea.

Regulators the North Sea Transition Authority, which confirmed the new licences yesterday, said it prioritised areas like the central and northern North Sea and west of Shetland to allow operators to press ahead with drilling plans.

It comes in the wake of the controversial green light for the Rosebank development off Shetland last month - the UK's largest untapped oil field.