Texas oil jack

Texas oil jack   (Click to enlarge: opens in new window)

Tanis Belsham-Wray, Leeds Socialist Party

Are you a boss of an oil company? Make sure the Tories have your best interests at heart and donate. Six of the Tories’ largest donors have taken up this smashing offer.

Labour counted their declared donations – they have given over £390,000 since Teresa May became prime minster.

For the effect, look at the Tory party’s 2017 manifesto. A promise to give “unprecedented support” to North Sea oil and gas, with a particular focus on fracking.

Bosses and billionaires gave the Tories £1.6 million in their second week of campaigning. They will be looked after too.

By comparison, in renewable energy the government has been told to “stop dithering” by Labour’s shadow business secretary Clive Lewis. And he has a point.

According to the Hendry Review we can power up to 20% of the UK’s energy just from tidal power. In fact, eight of the 20 locations identified as ideal for tidal power are in the UK.

And the Blairites attacking Corbyn have a similar track record. As the Socialist reported back in 2001, all the major privatised energy companies donated to New Labour to push their agendas.

The Socialist Party supports Corbyn’s pledge for more public ownership of utility companies, and investment in 300,000 jobs in renewable energy.

But the only way to bring these policies to light is to kick out the Blarities, regardless of the result on the 9 June. We need a party that represents the 99% instead of big business.