Fox warns of dangers of 'fossil fuel addiction'

The security of the UK is threatened by its dependence on fossils fuels from abroad, the shadow defence secretary warned last night.

Liam Fox told a fringe meeting at the Conservative party conference in Bournemouth: "We have to start to see energy in terms of security and not just in economics."

David Cameron has made the environment a key priority since being elected as Tory leader in December, but some in the party are sceptical.

However, last night Mr Fox criticised those who believed this emphasis might be a "fashion or a fad", arguing that Britain must become less reliant on certain energy sources and certain countries, "never allowing one group to hold us to ransom".

"It is an essential part of the strategic overview of our country in the times ahead," he said.

Mr Fox argued that Labour failed to understand the threat posed by energy security, saying "the use of resource nationalism as an alternative to cold war weaponry is frighteningly and quickly becoming a reality."

He added: "We in the west in the last five years have stuffed an extra $95 billion into the Iranian economy and an extra $245 billion into the Russian economy.

"I have to tell you that both of them are using a substantial proportion of that money for a big military build-up."

His comments were echoed by frontbench colleague Alan Duncan, the shadow trade secretary, who called for a "green revolution" at another fringe meeting today.

"The whole world of energy is on the cusp of a revolution…crucially the renewables sector can undoubtedly deliver far more than what used to be caricatured as a 'cranky' contribution," he said.

Mr Duncan added: "The principles that govern the future of our energy supply have to be the control and reduction of CO2 emissions… [and] we want security of supply as well."