CAMPAIGNERS accused Jeremy Hunt of hypocrisy today after the Tory Chancellor complained about gas drilling in his constituency, while championing oil and gas exploration north of the border.

Mr Hunt said he was “bitterly disappointed” after a legal ruling gave the green light to a gas drilling project in his Surrey constituency.

Last year he wrote to Housing Secretary Michael Gove, complaining that the drilling was “wrong both economically and environmentally.”

But his concerns did not extend beyond his local area. In September, he praised the approval of drilling in the North Sea, calling oil field Rosebank a “huge untapped resource."

Greenpeace UK’s political campaigner Ami McCarthy called it a “classic ‘not in my backyard’ move” that would “carry more weight if he wasn’t also driving through the government’s destructive plans to enshrine the granting of annual oil and gas licences into law. The guy is a hypocrite.”

Tessa Khan, executive director of Uplift, said Mr Hunt “shouldn’t be surprised” by the approval of drilling in his constituency.

“His government is actively pushing for new oil and gas production, including the Chancellor providing billions in subsidies, even while admitting new drilling will do nothing to lower bills or boost energy security.

“Hunt knows new drilling makes no economic or environmental sense when it’s happening in his constituency, but is happy to push it elsewhere.”

Friends of the Earth head of climate Jamie Peter argued that Mr Hunt is “actively supporting” a new oil development at Horse Hill near Gatwick, also in Surrey.

“The Chancellor wants new gas and oil developments — but not in his back yard,” he added.