Leaving the EU would be “environmental madness” for the UK, former energy and climate change secretary Ed Davey said today.
He said that voting to leave the EU – known as Brexit – would compromise the UK’s energy security, its ability to combat climate change threats and its burgeoning green economy.
Davey (pictured) was speaking at a private roundtable breakfast at MHP Communications in London, where he is a senior advisor to the company’s UK and international clients.
He said: “Energy security is important to the UK directly: we need to ensure our fuel supplies are guaranteed.
“As our imports of oil and gas rise as North Sea production falls, energy security has never been more important to us.
“And by working with others in the EU, we are more likely to secure what we need whilst stopping big countries like Russia bullying smaller countries in central and Eastern Europe.
“Perhaps a greener government than the current Conservative majority could offset the damage – but who’s to say a Brexit vote won’t unleash even stronger anti-green forces in the Tory Party and across the right of British politics?
“But you don’t have to take a party political position as I do. You only have to contemplate the years of uncertainty that would follow a Brexit vote.
“Energy investment thrives on political certainty because of the huge amounts of cash involved and because the financial returns come over a long period. If Britain votes to leave on 23 June, you’d better have a good export strategy.”
Image: Liberal Democrats
