Collector’s Edition: Alex Wolfe and Michael Gove Review 2025’s Biggest Energy Issues

This is the Collector's Edition of our timely conversation between our host Alex Wolfe and The Spectator's Editor Michael Gove, who are co-hosting The Spectator Energy Summit (Monday 24th November 2025).

The Summit brings together political leaders, industry CEOs and climate experts to debate the final energy issues of the year. The day opens with Alex's overview of a year marked by nuclear expansion, North Sea challenges and major policy decisions on affordability and transition.

Michael Gove sets the scene with a keynote on the UK’s energy direction, followed by Emma Pinchbeck outlining the UK’s climate strategy. Panels then explore:

• Backing a broad energy mix for UK security, with leaders from Equinor and National Grid
• Innovation and consumer energy with Greg Jackson of Octopus Energy
• The future of storage with major storage firms and Baroness Luciana Berger
• A major wind-power debate between RenewableUK and Kathryn Porter
• Ports and industrial electrification, including the Port of Dover and CCS Association
• Industry and mobility, with Bosch and automotive expert Harry Metcalfe
• Sustainable aviation fuels, featuring Firefly, Wizz Air, Boeing and Graham Brady

The Summit closes with Amber Rudd reflecting on the Paris Agreement ten years on, remarks from Claire Coutinho and final words from Gove, before a drinks reception.

The original episode between the two hosts, that was recorded in the Spectator boardroom, tackles the UK’s central energy dilemma: how to balance Net Zero, security, and affordability without losing the engineering talent and resources that already make Britain a global energy leader.

From the North Sea debate to international lessons on resilience, Michael Gove offers a clear view of how policy, markets and innovation must work together and why the UK’s energy future depends on building its strengths.

Michael Gove was Member of Parliament (MP) for Surrey Heath from 2005 to 2024. A member of the Conservative Party, Gove twice ran to become its leader, in 2016 and 2019, finishing in third place on both occasions. He has been editor of The Spectator since October 2024.

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Season Two is in Partnership with The Spectator

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Recorded at Studio 55 - that has produced Breaking the Taboo and The ABTO Podcast

Chapters

• 0:00 The Spectator Energy Summit Agenda
• 5:24 Introduction
• 8:37 The Spectator Energy Summit 2025
• 10:29 Onshore Wind Reforms
• 14:00 Clean Air Strategy
• 16:15 Climate Targets and Government
• 19:26 Petrol and Diesel Ban Shift
• 26:25 Energy Security Lessons from Russia-Ukraine War
• 32:25 Aberdeen and the Energy Profits Levy
• 37:03 Michael Gove’s Best and Worst Days in Politics
• 39:49 16-Year-Olds Having the Right to Vote
• 40:52 Michael Gove's Social Meetups
• 42:24 "Insufficiently political"
• 43:28 Michael Gove on 'Quite right!'
• 45:03 Guest Wishlist for Summit
• 46:46 Quick-Fire Questions
• 49:20 Conclusion