Letters

The oil and gas sector has warned it will be “taxed to death within five years” (your report, 27 November). Chancellor Rachel Reeves said that the Energy Profits Levy will remain in place until 2030.

Does she from her Green Ivory Tower not realise the everyday things which are made from fossil fuels?

Will Labour and Green politicians and those from the Green brigade shun everything that is derived from fossil fuels? Lipstick, deodorants, cosmetics, nail polish, perfume, toothpaste, soap, sanitary products, MRI machines, pacemakers, other medical equipment, fertilisers, pharmaceuticals, anaesthetics, cars, electrical goods, insecticides, safety helmets, contact lenses, heart valves, surgeons’ scrubs, lubricating oil, food preservatives, sports equipment and of course heat pumps, EVS, solar panels and wind turbines. It is to be hoped that they would avoid going to CO2 intensive sporting and music events and avoid air travel and restrict their meat intake. Now that could make a real difference and reduce the UK share of global emissions from 1 per cent to net zero, provided they persuade the other 69 million people in the UK to agree. The other 8.2 billion people in the world may take a little longer.

Clark Cross Linlithgow, West Lothian

A review of the Martin Lewis assessment of the Budget indicates that the £150 reduction on energy bills will be made by a fall in the unit price for a unit of gas and electricity. Indeed Ed Miliband went further to claim that consumers on fixed term deals would also receive the full £150 rebate.

However, note that for those living off-grid in the hinterland of the British Isles who rely on oil are excluded from the scheme ie it is not only Holyrood but also Westminster who ignore the needs of rural populations. Why do all politicians ignore this group of consumers?

Ian Moir Castle Douglas, Dumfries &

Galloway