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UK

UK pays to secure extra gas import capacity from Belgium amid fears of a winter supply crunch

Ofgem approved a deal to keep gas flowing through the Belgium–Britain pipeline this winter as a safeguard against a supply shock. The roughly £147m cost could be added to household bills.

L 27% · C 18% · R 55% · 11 outlets

Left 0 · Centre-left 3 · Centre 2 · Centre-right 3 · Right 3

Sources by leanFollow the moneyMore coverage

How each side framed it

Left-leaning outlets

Weak security: 'Last-minute deals with Belgium are not a proper fix' (Guardian), while the Independent and Evening Standard stress that NESO finds the system stable.

Centre outlets

Centre-rated outlets headline it: “Britain secures gas supply from Belgium before winter crunch” (Financial Times); “Ofgem approves deal to maintain UK gas import capacity” (Reuters).

Right-leaning outlets

Bills and shortage: 'Households face higher bills to guard against threat of gas shortages' (Telegraph), 'Britain could run out of gas this winter, Ofgem warns' (Daily Mail), and '£147m' (Express).

Holding the paradox

Agreed facts

Ofgem approved a deal to keep gas import capacity on the Belgium–Britain interconnector this winter, as a safeguard against a low-probability but high-impact supply shock such as a very cold spell. The cost, about £147m, could be added to bills. Britain imports almost 60% of its gas.

Where claims conflict

How big the cost to households is: the Guardian says about 10p a month, the Express about £1.19 a year over five years. And how real the risk is: NESO says supplies are ample, while Ofgem warned of a 'negative supply margin' in a one-in-20-year cold snap without action.

The paradox

The same week Britain approves a new North Sea gas field for security, it pays Belgium to make sure gas can still flow in.

Sources by lean

Balanced: the same number of articles from the left, the centre and the right (up to 3 each). The bar above still counts every rated outlet we found. Bias and factual ratings come from Media Bias/Fact Check. How we balance · All ratings.

Left 3

Centre 3

Right 3

Showing 3 from each side of 11 rated outlets (L 3 / C 2 / R 6). 1 found by a targeted top-up search (marked; not counted in the split). More coverage

Follow the money

Not yet researched. We haven't yet looked at who gains or loses financially from this story, or who funds the main voices on each side. When we do, we check company filings, the Electoral Commission donations register, lobbying registers, annual reports, InfluenceMap and OpenSecrets, and we apply the same checks to every side. How we follow the money.

Who owns or funds the outlets covering this story (11 outlets)
OutletLeanOwnership & funding (MBFC)
Politico EuropeCentre-leftOn 8/26/2021, German publisher Axel Springer purchased Politico and Politico Europe for a reported 1 billion dollars. Axel Springer owns numerous publications, including Bild, Business Insider, and Fakt. source
The GuardianCentre-leftThe Guardian and its companion publication, the Sunday newspaper The Observer, are owned by Guardian Media Group plc (GMG). Scott Trust Limited was created in 1936 to ensure the editorial independence of the publications and owns Guardian Media Group plc (GMG). source
The IndependentCentre-leftThe Independent is owned by Independent Print Limited, a company owned by the Lebedev family (Alexander Lebedev and his son Evgeny Lebedev). In 2017, Saudi Businessman Sultan Muhammad Abuljadayel bought a 30% stake in the Independent online newspaper. Advertising and subscription generate revenue for the paper..push({}); source
Financial TimesCentreThe Financial Times is owned by The Nikkei, a Japanese news and financial information company that publishes the leading financial paper, The Nikkei. The FT generates revenue through subscriptions, a hard paywall, and advertising..push({}); source
ReutersCentreIn April 2008, the British company Reuters Group was acquired by Thomson Corporation and formed Thomson Reuters. source
Evening StandardCentre-rightThe newspaper is majority-owned by Russian businessman and former KGB agent Alexander Lebedev and the Daily Mail and General Trust. Revenue is generated through advertising. source
ITV NewsCentre-rightNo ownership data found
The TimesCentre-rightThe Times and Sunday Times is owned by News UK (News Corp UK & Ireland Limited), which American News Corp owns. The owner and Executive Chairman of News Corp are Rupert Murdoch. Revenue is derived from advertising and subscription fees. source
Daily ExpressRightThe Daily Express is owned by Reach plc (formerly known as Trinity Mirror), a British newspaper, magazine, and digital publisher. Subscriptions, newsstand sales, and advertising generate revenue. source
Daily MailRightThe Daily Mail is published by Associated Newspapers Limited, part of Daily Mail and General Trust (DMGT). DMGT is controlled by the Rothermere family and is 100% owned by Rothermere Continuation Limited. Jonathan Harmsworth, 4th Viscount Rothermere, serves as Chairman..push({}); DMGT became privately owned after delisting from the London Stock Exchange in 2022. source
The TelegraphRightTelegraph Media Group (TMG) owns The Telegraph, which is owned by Press Acquisitions Ltd., which in turn is owned by Sir David and Sir Frederick Barclay. In 2004, Twin Brothers Sir David and Sir Frederick Barclay acquired the Daily Telegraph and the Sunday Telegraph from the Canadian media company Hollinger Inc. for £665 million. For a complete list of Board members, see here. source