Arthur Downing

Arthur Downing’s history of British energy, Power and the People, has just been published.

Asset Sweating: Britain’s Energy Crisis

Arthur Downing, 24 September 2026

For the second time​ in five years, Britain is experiencing an energy crisis. The political debate has coalesced around two proposed solutions. The first, advocated by the ‘Drill, baby, drill’ contingent, favours fast-tracking new oil and gas licences and reducing taxes on fossil fuel companies. Its proponents point to the Norwegian energy system as a model, but don’t...

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