Total, the largest investor in the North Sea, has warned the next UK government not to risk undermining the country’s oil and gas production by levying ill-advised carbon taxes on oil companies.

Christophe de Margerie, Total’s chief executive, he had gained assurances a new Conservative government would not add any taxes to companies exploring and developing new fields in the North Sea. Nevertheless, he said he worried the government could slap carbon emissions taxes on oil companies.