UK energy infrastructure under constant threat, minister warns
It is a "really scary world," Michael Shanks told Labour's annual conference.
Liverpool, England — The UK faces constant threats to its energy infrastructure, warned Energy Minister Michael Shanks at the Labour Party annual conference. Speaking at the POLITICO Pub in Liverpool, Shanks described the current climate as "uncertain" and "really scary." He highlighted that energy infrastructure is a "very, very clear weapon of war," citing the ongoing situation in Ukraine as a prime example.
Experts have expressed concerns over the vulnerability of crucial UK infrastructure, such as gas pipelines, to potential sabotage from Russia or other hostile forces. The Strategic Defense Review, commissioned by Keir Starmer’s government and published last year, emphasized that adversaries are increasingly likely to threaten the free flow of critical commodities like food and energy, aiming to put the UK and its allies at risk.
Recently, former Defence Secretary John Healey, now Chancellor under Prime Minister Andy Burnham, revealed that Russian submarines had conducted a "covert" operation near underwater infrastructure off the UK coast. Shanks stressed that the UK is now experiencing "more threats than ever before." He added that cybersecurity is becoming a growing risk, and the government is working tirelessly to safeguard its infrastructure, collaborating closely with industry partners.
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