THE prime minister has delivered a huge vote of confidence in North Sea oil and gas by saying it has a long-term future.

During a visit to Scotland Boris Johnson claimed “everyone credible” understands the sector cannot simply be abandoned.

Offshore firms have been under fire in recent months amid calls from environmental campaigners and the Scottish Greens to rein in exploration and extraction.

And there have also been demands for a windfall tax on the industry to bankroll measures such as help with rising home energy costs.

But there have been fears that attempting to swiftly move on from oil and gas would put thousands of Scottish jobs at risk and be to the detriment of the UK’s energy needs, in the short and longer term.

Mr Johnson said: “It is worth stressing at this juncture that, although we are moving beyond coal very fast and we’re moving to net-zero, a proper transition must involve hydrocarbons for an appreciable length of time.

“North Sea oil and gas will play a part in that and I think everybody credible on this issue understands that. I think it is worth stressing that.”