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Middle East crisis underlines need to end gas & oil reliance

Press release
It’s time for real energy independence that brings down energy bills down for good.

03 Mar 2026

Commenting on the rise in gas and oil prices following the conflict in the Middle East - which over-shadowed the Chancellor’s Spring Statement today - Friends of the Earth’s head of policy, Mike Childs, said:

“The conflict in the Middle East has sent oil and gas prices surging again, underlining the urgent need to end our reliance on climate-polluting fossil fuels. 

“For far too long, people and our economy have been battered by soaring energy prices – which are set by volatile global markets, no matter where the fuel is drilled.

“The government must speed-up the development of our vast homegrown renewable energy resources and invest far more in insulating Britain’s draughty, heat-leaking homes.

“It’s time for real energy independence – that brings down energy bills down for good.

“The only people who benefit from our fossil fuel dependency are the polluters, billionaires and powerful vested interests lining their pockets as global temperatures soar and instability escalates.”

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