THE Tory government met representatives from the oil and gas sector an average of 1.4 times per working day in 2023, an investigation by Global Witness revealed today.

At least 65 fossil fuel organisations and industry bodies were identified as meeting with ministers over the year, according to the group.

Global Witness analysed data by Transparency International UK, looking at any organisation that “could be reasonably assumed to have the goal of influencing policy or legislation in the interests of a fossil fuel company and its shareholders.”

According to its findings, ministers met representatives from the oil and gas sector at least 343 times last year, up from 330 meetings held in 2022.

More widely, the group found that meetings between oil and gas lobbyists and the government have been steadily increasing over the past 11 years.

November 2023 saw record-high levels of meetings when the government met oil and gas lobbyists at least 63 times, equivalent to almost three meetings every working day, the campaigners said.

The Offshore Petroleum Licensing Bill, which would mandate annual licensing of new oil and gas fields in the North Sea, was introduced the same month, they noted.

The end of November also marked the start of the UN climate change conference Cop28 in Dubai.

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero met oil and gas lobbyists at least 214 times in 2023 and 249 times the year before, the analysis also suggests.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak attended seven meetings with oil and gas organisations in 2023, including a meeting with Shell, North Sea Midstream Partners and Harbour Energy on the same day he pledged to “max out” Britain’s oil and gas reserves and granted hundreds of new oil and gas licences, according to Global Witness.

Global Witness fossil fuel campaigns lead Alice Harrison said: “For far too long the oil and gas industry has enjoyed privileged access to power, so it’s no wonder we are still so far away from real climate action.

“Fossil fuel companies are responsible for the climate crisis and made record-breaking profits from the energy crisis.

“They cannot be trusted to fix a mess of their own creation so whoever wins this election must slam the door shut on their toxic influence.”

The Conservative Party was approached for comment.