8 in 10 Brits would be concerned if the UK became reliant on America for gas, as US imports rise over 40% in 2026
Nearly three in five (56%) people say the UK should prioritise transitioning to renewable energy and net zero technologies, such as solar and heat pumps, to meet its future energy needs
By Jess Ralston
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Around eight in ten (79%) people say they would be concerned about the UK becoming reliant on gas from the US, with concern cutting across political divides. This includes more than three‑quarters (77%) of those who voted Conservative at the 2024 election, as well as around two‑thirds (63%) that voted Reform, polling by YouGov for the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU) has found [1].
The findings come as official Government data published this week show that imports of liquified natural gas (LNG) from the United States rose by over 40% (+43%) in the 12 months up to February 2026 compared to the 12 months up to February 2025, making up around 77% of LNG imports and a quarter (25%) of overall imports once including those via pipeline. [2]
This is a continuation of a longer-term trend; in 2025, US LNG imports rose by 38% compared to 2024 to make up around three-quarters (76%) of UK LNG imports and almost a quarter (23%) of overall UK imports. This is a large increase from 2021, when around a quarter (26%) of LNG imports came from the US making up less than a tenth (8%) of overall imports.
The rise in US imports reflects a re-shaping of global gas supply chains, with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine leading European countries to use more LNG – including via UK ports and interconnectors – and the role of US LNG could increase further due to the blockage of Middle Eastern LNG shipments at the Strait of Hormuz by Iran and the US.
The conflict in Iran is also re-shaping oil and gas supplies, with the long-term impacts currently unclear. The US is now blocking the Strait of Hormuz after Iran initially stopped ships passing through the Strait, which is a key transport route. This has resulted in an increase in demand for US oil and gas; an increase in prices; and boosted US supply into Europe, especially.
After learning that around 90% of oil and gas in the North Sea has already been extracted, around three in five (62%) people say the UK should prioritise transitioning to renewable energy and net zero technologies such as solar, heat pumps and electric vehicles. By contrast, only around one in four (26%) support prioritising the maximisation of remaining oil and gas reserves.
There was a clear shift in Reform voter opinion on this point. Just a fifth (20%) of Reform voters said they thought the UK should prioritise renewable energy compared with nearly three-quarters (72%) that support prioritising the maximisation of remaining oil and gas reserves, but when a separate group of Reform voters were presented with the fact that around 90% of North Sea reserves have been extracted, the proportion supporting renewables almost doubled (39%) and those supporting oil and gas extraction dropped to around half (48%).
Commenting on the polling, Jess Ralston, Head of Energy at the ECIU, said:
“It seems that both the head of the International Energy Agency and the British public are on the same page, clearly seeing energy independence coming from clean technologies, the shift to net zero emissions and away from dependence on burning oil and gas.
“North Sea oil and gas output will continue to decline, even by the industry’s own ambitious estimates, so without boosting electrification and continuing to roll out renewables the UK will become increasingly subservient to the US on energy.”
“With the US now blocking the Strait of Hormuz, benefitting US oil and gas producers, unless the UK makes a decisive shift to electric heat pumps, it will become ever more dependent on foreign gas imports to stay warm. That is a potential national security crisis in the making.
“When presented with the facts, Reform voters see things differently, suggesting that as things stand they aren’t getting the full picture.”
Fatih Birol, executive director of the International Energy Agency (IEA), in a recent interview said: “There will be a significant boost to renewables and nuclear power and a further shift towards a more electrified future” as result of the conflict." [3]
Commenting on more drilling in the North Sea he said “…these fields would not change much for the UK’s energy security, nor would they change the price of oil and gas. They would not make any significant difference to this crisis.” He added: “They won’t provide any significant quantities of oil and gas for many years to come. They will not lower the bills, the UK will remain a significant importer and price taker on international markets. I am not even talking about the climate change effects – just from a business point of view, making a major investment in exploration might not make business sense.”
The polling also found that around half (48%) of respondents said that the UK should prioritise heat pumps powered by electricity, which is more than double the proportion of people who think that the country should prioritise gas boilers powered by gas (23%).
Notes to editors:
[1] Polling by YouGov, commissioned by the ECIU. Total sample size was 2,056 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 20th - 21st April 2026. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all GB adults (aged 18+).
[2] Data from DESNZ Energy Trends 4.3 April 2026.
[3] https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/apr/24/global-oil-crisis-changed-fossil-fuel-industry-for-ever-iea-chief-fatih-birol
For more information or for interview requests:
George Smeeton, Head of Communications, ECIU, t: 020 8156 5305, m: 07894 571 153, email: george.smeeton@eciu.net