UK cabinet ministers pressure Starmer to revisit North Sea oil drilling ban

British cabinet ministers are increasing pressure on Prime Minister Keir Starmer to reconsider the Labour government's climate neutrality plans. The Times reports that senior figures within the government are pushing to review restrictions on North Sea oil drilling.

Senior ministers within the British cabinet are mounting growing pressure on Prime Minister Keir Starmer to reconsider key elements of the Labour Party's climate neutrality agenda, according to The Times.

At the heart of the dispute are restrictions on oil drilling in the North Sea — a cornerstone of Labour's environmental policy commitments. Critics within the government argue that the current approach is putting economic interests and energy security at risk, particularly at a time when energy prices remain a significant concern for British households and businesses.

The internal pressure highlights a deepening tension within the Labour government between its ambitious green transition pledges and more pragmatic voices urging a reassessment of the pace and scope of climate-related restrictions. Starmer has so far championed the party's clean energy agenda as a path toward both environmental goals and long-term economic growth.

The Times report suggests the cabinet debate reflects broader anxieties about the political and economic costs of the current climate policy direction, with some ministers warning that the restrictions could harm British industry and energy independence.