Keir Starmer’s pandering to Just Stop Oil fanatics is act of surrender to Putin, says Rishi Sunak

SIR Keir Starmer’s pandering to Just Stop Oil is an act of surrender playing into Vladimir Putin’s hands, Rishi Sunak said yesterday.

The PM hammered Labour’s policy to abandon North Sea Oil amid a row over a £1.5million donation by the group’s bankroller.

Labour confirmed it would ban new drilling contracts after Sir Keir met green energy boss Dale Vince.

It has refused to return the money to the New-Age-traveller-turned-energy-tycoon who has praised the tactics of Just Stop Oil.

Mr Sunak said turning off the taps would mean Britain was more dependent on oil and gas imports from dodgy countries such as Russia.

He said: “It does appear that these kind of eco zealots at Just Stop Oil are writing Keir Starmer’s energy policy and, not content with disrupting our summer and cherished sporting events, they are essentially leading us into an energy surrender.”

Speaking on his way to the US, he said: “We should focus on energy security, not weakness and dependency which seems to be the Labour Party’s policy.

“They are putting ideology ahead of jobs, ahead of investment and ahead of our energy security. It’s a completely bizarre policy which says, ‘We won’t ban oil and gas, we’ll just ban British oil and gas’. The only people that benefit from Keir Starmer’s energy policy are dictators and autocrats like Vladimir Putin.”

Labour said Sir Keir had condemned Just Stop Oil.

A spokesman said: “The idea that they have influenced our policy is for the birds.

“The modern Labour Party doesn’t bow to fringe lobbies or extremists. Everything we do is firmly focused on providing security and opportunity for hard-working Brits.”