No one voted for anti-growth, anti-capitalist green groups to use lawfare to control our economic fate

Perhaps Greta Thunberg could be put in charge of the Bank of England. Caroline Lucas could be appointed to oversee the Treasury. A couple of activists from Just Stop Oil could be let out of jail to run the Department of Business and Trade, while some from Extinction Rebellion could take over at the Office for Budget Responsibility. The Telegraph has the story.

It may sound like a parody. And yet, Ed Miliband, the Energy Security and Net Zero Secretary, has just effectively given Greenpeace control over elements of our energy policy. And we are well on the way to handing anti-growth, far-Left eco-activists far too much influence over our economic fate.

The trouble is, no one voted for that. And even worse, it will end up impoverishing us all. 

The North Sea had already become a hostile legal and regulatory environment for anyone still brave enough to try and make a living from exploring for oil and gas and delivering it to British homes and businesses, to keep the lights switched on and the heating running through the winter.

They already face bans on expanding their business, and punitive windfall taxes in the event that they ever manage to make a profit. Many of them have quite sensibly already decided enough is enough and pulled out, preferring to put their money to work somewhere else or simply to do nothing instead.

And yet, they face full-scale lawfare as well.

Miliband decided that his department would not fight a climate lawsuit challenging licences granted to the Rosebank and Jackdaw oil and gas fields, two of the largest potential developments left in the region. He argues that it would save the taxpayer money. 

It will no longer contest the challenges brought against them by Greenpeace, and its fellow climate campaign group, Uplift. And while it will be up to the courts to make the final decision, the licences look as good as finished. The slow death of the North Sea has now taken another decisive step forwards. 

This is crazy. There are three big flaws with this decision. 

To start with, when did Miliband’s department last display any interest in saving taxpayer money? GB Energy, the new, £8.3bn, state-owned company has been on a hiring spree. But no one yet seems to have a clear idea what it will actually do. 

If Miliband is suddenly so worried about how taxpayer money is being spent, then perhaps he should start there – instead of pinching a few pennies on the legal fees for contesting this legal action.

After all, at least Rosebank and Jackdaw would, if allowed to go ahead, definitely generate some actual energy. This is more than can be said for the Government’s odd investment vehicle.

Next, the door has been opened for green activists to use lawfare to control our economic fate. With this decision, any green pressure group may be tempted to launch a judicial review. And if the Government won’t oppose it, then they have a veto.

Read the full story here.