So Labour are going ahead and giving the OK to the Jackdaw gas field which will provide 2% of our gas. in an uncertain world this could be a sensible choice, especially if the taxes gained are used to speed up our reduced dependance on fossil fuels. I know that the field will increase global warming, but our dependance on gas will not disappear for a few decades. With Trumps capricious behaviour, wars in Ukraine and the Middle East (the illegal war has already spread to neighbouring countries) and the volatile nature of supply and price it makes some sense. The price we pay will not be reduced but Jackdaw will provide a small guarantee regarding supply. We must accelerate insulation and solar panels and heat pumps , I keep hearing contradictory comments regarding the latter, yet most of Scandinavia has them? Whether Rosebank Oil Field will be/ should be, approved is debateable but I guess the same arguments apply. The government now needs to ensure that new wind farms and solar panels are rolled out as fast as possible, and the National grid upgraded asap to ensure that we have the alternative energy.
The Covid inquiry has basically called Matt Hancock a liar and a charatan, and by association Boris BJ Johnson. The ‘protective ring’ was a fallacy that led to many deaths and stress amongst care workers. I have friends who maintain that Boris did the best he could in an unprecidented epidemic – I do not agree with them. The government at that time was all about money – not shutting down until it was basically too late; giving out contacts for PPE that were blatently ripoffs, and then lying about parties in Downing Street. Burnham has said the present government will learn from the mistakes.
Meanwhile the UK has done a deal with Saudi Arabia to protect it from Houti missile attack – I hope the deal was a good one for the UK as it will make it more liable for terrorist attacks. Again though it makes sense to protect vital supply lines of oil and gas (until we manage to cope without). Hmmm I seem to be in a very conciliatory mood today!
Maybe Storm Austin will bring some much needed rain to South-West England, we need it, but more importantly, a long term strategy to ensure we are neither engulfed or in a drought situation. It looks like we could have rain on and off for the next week.