MARGARET Thatcher gave the UK a "big early start" in the transition away from coal by closing so many mines, Boris Johnson has said. 

The Prime Minister laughed as he made the comment to journalists after he was asked about setting a deadline for the end of oil and gas exploration. 

He was taking part in a virtual Q&A with the media while visiting the Moray East Offshore Wind Farm development on the final day of his trip to Scotland.

Mr Johnson was asked if he agreed with Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, who said he wanted to see a “hard-edged timetable” for the end of oil and gas exploration.

The Prime Minister said he understood the importance of the oil and gas industry to the north-east of Scotland, and that contracts which have been signed "should not just be ripped up". 

He added: "But we need to transition, and we need to transition as fast as we reasonably can."

He said the potential of Scottish wind energy is "just incredible" and provides an opportunity to generate "high wage, high skilled jobs".

Pushed on a deadline for the end of oil and gas exploration, given the timeline to reach net-zero emissions, he said: "You look at what we've done already. We've transitioned away from coal in my lifetime.

"Thanks to Margaret Thatcher who closed so many coal mines across the country, we had a big early start and we're now moving rapidly away from coal altogether."

Mr Johnson laughed as he made the comment, and added: “I thought that would get you going.”

He said: "We're now down to less than two per cent, 1%, I think, of our energy comes from coal."