Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced his resignation last month
Letter from London: Leadership lacking as energy crisis looms
The UK is facing a winter of energy price discontent, but the governing Conservative party is focused on its own internal struggle
Surging energy prices are poised to drive a significant portion of UK households into fuel poverty this winter, making retail energy bills a major electoral issue. But a political interregnum is adding to uncertainty over how, if, and when the government may take further action. The UK’s Conservative administration has already committed to supporting households through the Energy Bills Support Scheme, with 29mn households set to receive a £400 ($484) discount to their bills in six instalments from 1 October, plus additional payments for specific demographics such as pensioners. The scheme is being funded through the UK’s windfall tax, called the Energy Profits Levy, on oil and gas companies.
Also in this section
11 August 2025
The administration is pushing for deregulation and streamline permitting for natural gas, while tightening requirements and stripping away subsidies from renewables
8 August 2025
The producers’ group missed its output increase target for the month and may soon face a critical test of its strategy
7 August 2025
The quick, unified and decisive strategy to return all the barrels from the hefty tranche of cuts from the eight producers involved in voluntary curbs signals a shift and sets the tone for the path ahead
7 August 2025
Without US backing, the EU’s newest sanctions package against Russia—though not painless—is unlikely to have a significant impact on the country’s oil and gas revenues or its broader economy
