UK ministers met fossil fuel lobbyists 500 times in first year of power, analysis shows

<p>Lobbyists attended 48% more meetings than Tories, as Labour accused of giving them ‘backstage pass’ </p><ul><li><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2025/oct/16/china-spy-case-cps-keir-starmer-uk-politics-latest-news-updates">UK politics live – latest updates</a></p></li></ul><p>Government ministers met representatives from the fossil fuel industry more than 500 times during their first year in power – equivalent to twice every working day, according to new research.</p><p>The analysis found that fossil fuel lobbyists were present at 48% more ministerial meetings during Labour’s first year in power than under the Conservatives in 2023.</p><p>Ministers at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) met fossil fuel lobbyists 274 times, with industry figures present at almost a quarter of meetings.</p><p>Ed Miliband, the secretary for energy and climate change, met fossil fuel lobbyists 250 times – with a third of all his meetings attended by industry figures.</p><p>During the same period DESNZ ministers met trade union representatives 61 times</p><p>Three fossil fuel companies: BP, Shell and Equinor , met ministers 100 times between them.</p><p>Fossil fuel lobbyists<strong> </strong>attended almost every government meeting about the energy profits levy, a temporary windfall tax on the “extraordinary profits” of North Sea oil and gas companies.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/oct/16/uk-labour-ministers-fossil-fuel-lobbyists-analysis">Continue reading...</a>