Environmental group says Pembrokeshire MP’s North Sea stance risks undermining climate policy

PEMBROKESHIRE MP Henry Tufnell has been accused by local environmental campaigners of backing “drill baby drill” tactics over future North Sea oil and gas production.

Pembrokeshire Friends of the Earth made the claim after Mr Tufnell wrote an article in The Sun in March criticising the UK Government’s position on new oil and gas drilling.

The group said it wrote to the Labour MP on April 3, challenging his comments and urging him to reconsider his position.

In its letter, the group argued that further North Sea drilling would do little to reduce energy bills or improve energy security, because UK oil and gas prices are linked to international markets.

A spokesperson for Pembrokeshire Friends of the Earth said Mr Tufnell’s approach was “supported by the likes of Reform UK and Donald Trump” but rejected by energy and climate experts.

The group said the UK Energy Research Centre had concluded that additional UK oil and gas production would have “negligible impact” on the cost of living, and that the priority should instead be reducing demand and investing in renewable energy.

It also pointed to Climate Change Committee analysis suggesting that job losses in fossil fuel industries would be outweighed by job creation in areas such as renewable energy, retrofitting and electric vehicles.

Pembrokeshire Friends of the Earth also criticised Mr Tufnell’s call for the removal of carbon taxes in manufacturing, saying it showed a lack of understanding of the urgency of climate change.

The group said Mr Tufnell had failed to reply to its letter, despite allegedly promising to do so during a face-to-face conversation in Narberth in April.

The spokesperson added: “The fact that the MP has refused to reply to our letter suggests that he either has more respect for a London tabloid newspaper than for his own constituents or is having difficulty justifying the viewpoints he presented in The Sun.”

MP says transition must protect jobs

In response, Mr Tufnell said he was “immensely grateful” for the work of Pembrokeshire Friends of the Earth and praised the group’s campaigning on environmental issues.

He said he was proud to have supported the group last month by attending its screening of the People’s Emergency Briefing film, which highlighted threats to nature and climate.

Mr Tufnell said Pembrokeshire was “uniquely placed” to lead the clean energy transition, citing floating offshore wind, hydrogen, carbon capture, sustainable aviation fuel and battery storage.

He added that the county was proud of its coastline, rivers and wildlife, and that the community was committed to protecting them.

However, he said the transition to clean energy had to be “a just one”.

Mr Tufnell said: “Pembrokeshire’s energy sector has powered the UK for decades, and still supplies 20% of the country’s energy demand.

“I am calling on the Government to protect our established energy industries by cutting carbon taxes. Failure to act puts jobs and livelihoods in industrial communities like ours at risk.

“Decarbonisation cannot come at the cost of deindustrialisation and greater deprivation in our county.”

He said households and businesses across the UK had felt the impact of conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine, and argued that Britain must strengthen energy security by making full use of its own resources rather than relying on imports.

Mr Tufnell added: “Oil and gas will remain part of our energy mix for decades to come. It therefore makes sense to use our domestic resources.

“Doing so will not only strengthen our energy security, but support British industry — protecting jobs, boosting tax revenue, cutting our trade deficit and strengthening the economy.

“I will continue to work hard to ensure we have a just energy transition, protecting the jobs and skills base of today, while building the industries of tomorrow.”

Treasury plans would make it harder for major clean-energy and infrastructure projects to be delayed by legal challenges

THE MILFORD HAVEN Waterway could be one of the areas most affected by new UK Government plans to speed up the delivery of major energy and infrastructure projects.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves is expected to announce reforms giving Parliament greater power to approve nationally important clean-energy schemes, including new power stations, offshore wind farms and grid connections.

The Treasury says the move is designed to strengthen energy security, reduce bills and support economic growth.

But the proposals could also prove highly significant for Pembrokeshire, where the Haven Waterway is increasingly being promoted as a key hub for floating offshore wind, port infrastructure, grid upgrades, hydrogen, and other clean-energy projects.

Under the plans, Parliament would be able to designate key clean-energy schemes as being of “Critical National Importance”. That would reduce the scope for judicial review challenges, except on human rights grounds.

For other nationally significant infrastructure projects, including transport and water schemes, the government plans to introduce a fixed legal challenge window. Once that period has passed, developers would have greater certainty that projects could proceed.

The Treasury said the aim was to stop repeated legal challenges from delaying projects considered vital to the country.

A Treasury spokesperson said: “For too long, vital infrastructure delivery has been delayed by judicial reviews of projects the country needs.

“The Chancellor won’t stand for it any longer and is bringing forward bold changes to support delivery.”

The announcement will be watched closely in Pembrokeshire, where Milford Haven Waterway already plays a major role in the UK’s energy system.

The waterway is home to major port, fuel, gas and power infrastructure, and is central to plans for the next generation of low-carbon energy development in west Wales.

Supporters are likely to argue that faster decision-making could bring investment, jobs and supply-chain opportunities to Pembrokeshire.

However, the proposals may also raise concerns about local accountability, particularly if smaller energy projects are allowed to apply directly to the Planning Inspectorate rather than going through local councils.

That could leave communities feeling they have less influence over developments affecting their landscape, coastline and infrastructure.

The government says the new route would apply specifically to clean-energy projects, reflecting what it describes as the urgent need to move away from reliance on fossil fuels.

For Milford Haven Waterway, the reforms could mean major schemes connected to offshore wind, power generation, grid reinforcement and port-linked infrastructure move forward more quickly.

But they may also intensify debate over who gets the final say when national energy policy meets local communities.

Public invited to Letterston event followed by local discussion

A FREE public screening of The People’s Emergency Briefing will take place at Letterston Memorial Hall on Friday, May 29, at 7:00pm.

Doors open at 6:30pm, and the event will be introduced by Dr Sarah Beynon of The Bug Farm.

The screening is being hosted by Transition Bro Gwaun, a North Pembrokeshire grassroots organisation which works to help communities move towards a more sustainable future.

The 50-minute film has been adapted from the National Emergency Briefing, held at Westminster Central Hall in November 2025, where more than 1,200 MPs, peers and leaders from business, culture, faith, sport and the media gathered to hear from experts on climate and nature risks.

Introduced by Chris Packham CBE, the briefing examined the implications of climate and nature breakdown for food security, public health, infrastructure, the economy and national security. It also set out evidence-based actions aimed at reducing those risks.

The People’s Emergency Briefing was launched nationwide in April and is now being screened in communities across the UK. Organisers say more than 300 showings have already taken place, with around 1,000 scheduled during the summer.

As well as the Letterston event, further screenings are planned for Solva and Cardigan in June.

Transition Bro Gwaun said the screening comes at a time when severe weather and higher rainfall are making communities in Pembrokeshire more vulnerable. November and December 2025 saw flooding affect several areas, with the Met Office confirming rainfall was more than 50% above average during the period.

The group also warned that dry periods can create other risks, including wildfires on heathland, which can damage important habitats and wildlife.

After the film, attendees will be invited to take part in a structured discussion about the issues raised and what they may mean locally.

Henry Tufnell MP, Pembrokeshire county councillors and town and community councillors from across the county have been invited to attend.

Tom Latter, trustee at Transition Bro Gwaun, said: “TBG welcomes the opportunity to host one of many Emergency Briefing events around the UK, addressing the climate and nature crisis.

“Co-ordinated restorative action is urgently needed, and understanding of the urgency for honest commitment to resilience planning from all branches of society.”

Tickets are free and refreshments will be provided. The event takes place at Letterston Memorial Hall, SA62 5RY.