Tony Blair’s think tank has argued that Labour should continue drilling in the North Sea, coming to blows with Energy Secretary Ed Milliband.

The Tony Blair Institute for Global Change has released a paper titled “Why Britain Needs and Energy-Strategy Reset”, arguing that reviving and expanding the oil and gas industry would bolster the UK economy by £165 billion.

Whilst the think tank was quick to establish that North Sea oil and gas alone would not markedly contribute to lower energy bills for Britons, they argue that this does not make it irrelevant to the wider UK economy.

The support for such a move comes to blows with the government, who in late 2025 began a “crackdown” of North Sea exploration. Sources close to Miliband say that the Institute’s position on the matter is “nonsense.”

Industry trade bodies have weighed in on the matter as well. The UK Sustainable Investment and Finance Association (UKSIF) CEO, James Alexander, has criticised the proposal. 

“Our shift to a clean economy is a huge strategic opportunity to drive long-term growth and create quality jobs” he said whilst simultaneously “cutting our dependence on expensive imported fuel.”

He also argued that expansion into the North Sea carries significant risks from “soaring decommissioning costs and asset stranding.” 

The Tony Blair Institute for Global Change is a significant voice, and their decision to …