She insisted it is “not rocket science” and that the Prime Minister and Energy Secretary need to “get a grip” as Britons face soaring prices. Mrs Badenoch told LBC: “A lot of people don’t know that quite a lot of your bills aren’t coming from the wholesaler or the energy company, it’s actually the Government that’s put loads of taxes on that.

“We think that those taxes need to come off. They’re being used to subsidise things that in my view don’t need subsidies.

“Why don’t we just bring your bills down by drilling in the North Sea? It’s not rocket science but Labour don’t seem to even want to think about it.

“It’s important for our energy security, our financial security, our national security.”

She went on: “Instead they want to raise fuel duty in September. They’re telling people they’ve extended it for five months, we froze it for 14 years, in fact we cut it in 2022.

“So there’s a lot that can be done. People out there are struggling. I’m very worried about the cost of filling up my car. I’m very worried about the cost of living for my constituents.

Turning to other countries, she said: “That’s a left-wing government in Australia. Australia’s cutting fuel duty, Norway’s labour government is drilling in the North Sea, our guys are just sitting on their hands doing nothing, or they’re actually making it worse by increasing fuel duty in September.”

The Tories and Reform UK have urged Labour to scrap the planned fuel duty hike amid the Middle East conflict.

Iran’s ongoing blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has disrupted a vital shipping route for the oil and gas industry, with prices jumping.