Support grows for new North Sea developments as energy debate intensifies

Public support for new oil and gas developments in the North Sea remains significantly stronger than support for further restrictions, according to new polling that highlights the political challenge facing the government's energy strategy.

The YouGov survey found that 46% of Britons believe new oil and gas developments in the North Sea should be permitted, compared with 23% who say existing fields should continue operating but no new projects should be approved.

A further 10% believe the government should go further still and begin shutting down existing oil and gas developments altogether.

The findings suggest that, despite the prominence of net zero targets within political debate, many voters continue to favour maintaining and expanding domestic energy production.

The results arrive amid an increasingly intense debate over Britain's energy future, balancing climate commitments against energy security, economic growth and household costs.

Support for new developments extends across much of the political spectrum, although the strength of that support varies considerably between voter groups.

Among Labour voters, opinion is notably more divided. Some 35% support allowing new North Sea developments, while 33% favour permitting existing fields to continue operating without approving new projects. A further 13% would support closing existing oil and gas fields altogether.

The picture is markedly different among Conservative and Reform UK voters.

Between 71% and 78% of supporters of the two parties back new oil and gas developments, underlining the growing political divide over Britain's approach to energy policy.

The figures are likely to add further weight to arguments that domestic energy production remains popular with much of the electorate, particularly at a time when energy security has become a more prominent political issue following years of global market volatility.

Supporters of expanding North Sea production argue that domestic oil and gas reduces reliance on imports, supports jobs and strengthens Britain's energy resilience during the transition to lower-carbon alternatives.

Critics, however, contend that approving new developments risks undermining climate targets and delaying investment in renewable energy infrastructure.

The polling suggests that while there is public support for environmental goals, voters remain cautious about policies perceived to restrict domestic energy production without clear alternatives in place.

For ministers, the findings illustrate the increasingly delicate balancing act at the centre of energy policy.

Britain remains committed to ambitious net zero targets, yet public opinion appears to favour a more gradual transition that continues to utilise domestic oil and gas resources alongside the development of cleaner technologies.

The debate over the North Sea has become one of the defining political questions of the energy transition. The latest YouGov figures suggest that, for now at least, voters are more inclined towards continued production than further restrictions.

As governments seek to navigate the competing demands of climate policy, economic growth and energy security, the public appears to have delivered a clear message: many Britons still see a role for the North Sea in Britain's energy future.

Source: YouGov poll of 6,303 adults in Great Britain, conducted 29 May 2026.