UK politicians are in disagreement over North Sea drilling. Credit: Michael Saint Maur Sheil via Getty Images.

British Labour Party politician Richard Burgon has proposed a new bill that would ban UK MPs from receiving funding or any other benefit from oil and gas companies.

The proposed bill, presented by left-leaning Burgon to parliament on 18 July, follows Labour party proposals to end new North Sea oil and gas licences if it wins power.

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“We need a firewall between super-polluters and our politics,” Burgon said in a video posted on his Twitter account. “If we’re going to have a chance to avert climate disaster, we need action now”.

The proposed bill would prevent MPs from taking second jobs with oil and gas companies or receiving donations, gifts, hospitality or any kind of benefits from companies that make more than 50% of their revenue from oil and gas.

In addition, MPs would be prohibited “from receiving any financial or other benefit from oil and gas companies. In addition, the bill would “require the Leader of the House to publish proposals for divestment of the Parliamentary Contributory Pension Fund from oil and gas companies, and for connected purposes”.

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The bill will be debated by MPs in November this year.

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Labour’s position on oil and gas is controversial, with current Energy Secretary Grant Shapps arguing that a ban on new oil and gas licences would negatively impact the UK’s energy security.

According to analysis of Electoral Commission records by environmental campaign group DeSmog, the  Conservative party made £3.5m ($4.1m) in 2022 from donors with links to the fossil fuel industry or climate denialism.

According to current opinion polls, the Labour Party maintains a strong lead over the ruling Tories.