Don’t be fooled – the government is more interested in profit than energy security

Letters to the editor: our readers share their views. Please send your letters to letters@independent.co.uk

Energy strategy is a long-term process (PA)

It is lazy politics for the government to award more oil and gas licenses claiming energy security necessity at this time. Over and over again the government of the day for the last 15 to 20 years have not dealt with that very issue.

Having sold off all [energy] generation, [except] our nuclear power fleet, they each and every one watched that fleet age and close without replacement, meaning an erosion of generation under direct national control. And since we had sold almost all of our other generation plant to foreign investors, their primary concern was profit and returns to shareholders, not UK energy security.

Sure, there were moves towards wind, biomass and other renewables, but approaches were sporadic at best. Policy was inconsistent, and there doesn’t appear to have been a determination to stick to a strategy common to all in regard to energy in the UK and who controlled it.

The fundamental problem with energy generation is that [it] is [a] long-term process. That process almost always outstrips terms of government, so policy decisions have to be recognised as being for 10, 20 or even 30 years ahead. This means it is critical that energy strategies are not a short-term political football, but an agreed pathway for the nation.

As such the process requires mature debate over some very uncomfortable matters for our politicians. Politicians of all stripes have long blamed everyone but themselves for indecision and obfuscation. But the bottom line is that the job of government is to make these difficult, long term and often very unpopular decisions for us the people.

The only other way to genuinely deal with energy security in the UK would be to develop a national plan. Build our own generation facilities and return energy to UK control. But I very much doubt our political class have the wit, determination or courage to get that done.

John Sinclair

Pocklington

Let them out

I think Edward Lyon goes too far with his proposal that houses empty after six months should be forfeit. It would be quite reasonable, however, for the council (with due notice) to seize control of such a house, carry out any necessary repairs and renovations and then let out to locals on the basis of need. The rents would be forwarded by the council to the owner, after deduction of costs incurred and an appropriate management fee and perhaps withholding tax.

The owner would retain the right to control the property if needed by him/her after paying any outstanding bills the council has incurred. The owner will not really lose out if his alternative plan was to let the property stand empty for multiple years.

John Bailey

Address supplied

We must always support Ukraine

It is heartening to hear from Ben Wallace that the UK will continue to support Ukraine until the end. However, it is a worry that should Trump become president again he has indicated their level of support might change. Given what happened in Afghanistan, if the USA cease their support, we will immediately follow suit.

Geoff Forward

Stirling