Green-fingered Charles reads out controversial increase in North Sea drilling

ECO-FRIENDLY King Charles announced a raft of new government measures that have been blasted by green groups.

The monarch read out Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s legislative programme that included further exploration of North Sea oil and gas fields.

The move is a clear dividing line with Labour who have vowed to end handing out new licences if they win power at the next election.

But the King has no input into the speech as he gives an overview of the laws the government wants to pass before they have to go to the country, no later than January 2025.

It marked the first time a King has delivered the speech for some 70 years.

But Greenpeace’s UK Rebecca Newsom, said: “From annual oil and gas licences to giving landlords more powers to kick tenants out of their homes – this King’s Speech just served as a vehicle for Sunak to further his desperate pursuit of short-term political point scoring, at the expense of the public.

“All of the world’s superpowers are investing heavily in green infrastructure, renewables and the clean tech of the future because they know it will generate economic growth, jobs and ultimately help to stop the planet from burning.”

While heir to the throne, the then Prince Charles was a tireless campaigner for green issues.

He is set to make a keynote speech at the Cop28 climate summit in Dubai.