Castle Point MP Dame Rebecca Harris wrote and signed a Conservative Commons amendment calling for more North Sea oil and gas production to help bring down household energy bills and strengthen Britain’s energy security.

As Opposition Chief Whip, Dame Rebecca wrote and signed the amendment tabled in the name of Conservative Party Leader Kemi Badenoch in Parliament this week and voted in favour of the proposal in the House of Commons.

The amendment called on the Government to support new North Sea licences to protect British jobs, reduce reliance on imported fuel and help tackle soaring energy costs affecting families across Essex.

Commenting after Labour voted against the amendment, Dame Rebecca said:

“Castle Point residents, like families across the country, are still being hammered by high fuel and heating costs. We should be using our own resources here in Britain to help keep bills lower, protect jobs and reduce reliance on imports.

“Instead, Labour are blocking new North Sea licences while at the same time relaxing sanctions rules to allow more Russian fuel to come into the UK indirectly through third countries. That makes no sense at all.

“We need affordable energy, we need secure energy and we need common sense.”

The Conservative amendment was defeated by Labour MPs in the Commons.