Badenoch urges North Sea drilling instead of raising fuel duty

PoliticsBusiness & Finance
29 Mar 2026 • 8:36 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

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Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has called on the government to focus on increasing domestic fuel production rather than hiking taxes.

Speaking to Sky News on Sunday (29 March), she insisted that boosting UK oil and gas output should take priority over rationing.

“What the government needs to do is start drilling our own oil and gas in the North Sea. That is what it should be doing,” she said, dismissing calls for fuel duty hikes.

The comments come amid growing concerns over rising fuel prices and fears of panic buying.