A judge said the claimants’ focus on specific years when the companies received more in tax breaks than they sent to the government was “nonsensical”.

Only 19 MPs and one peer signed the letter to the Sunday Telegraph, apparently contradicting Craig Mackinlay’s claim that his “Net Zero Scrutiny Group” has over 50 members.

The judicial review, brought against the government's Oil and Gas Authority and business secretary, comes a week after Shell pulled out of the Cambo North Sea project.

Marcus Fysh, the MP for Yeovil, also has a stake in two banks that have financed billions in fossil fuels.

CAR26 director Lois Perry was at a fringe event outside the official summit and organisers say she “left of her own accord”.

Campaigners criticised the Spanish energy giant and its subsidiary ScottishPower, an official COP26 sponsor, over their green PR at the UN climate summit.

Indigenous groups led the march amid criticism that they have been side-lined from the official COP26 summit.

Experts said his “prehistoric arguments” in the Spectator prove that Net Zero Watch is really “a front for tired old climate change denial”. 

Denmark and South Africa were the only exceptions among the 35 country pavilions at the UN climate summit, and the latter’s stall is sponsored by coal companies.

The industry is hoping the rules can be finalised by the end of the year so another licensing round can take place.