Events in Iran, including attacks on shipping in the Straits of Hormuz and the resulting sharp increase in the oil price, which is now (at $ 78 per barrel for Brent crude ) 24 per cent higher than it was at the beginning of the year, are a sharp reminder of the UK’s growing dependence on imported oil and gas. The facts are simple. Oil and natural gas provide over 70 cent of the UK’s daily energy consumption. Renewables Solar and wind) are growing but still provide only 13 per cent of the total.