Arguably so. But the problem is from BP, a multinational company, and on American soil. The cost (financially) is to be paid by BP and the US government. The government of the United Kingdom is not really any more involved than any other government that wants an environment after this finishes



Absolutely, as is reasonable. Although, some of the blame has to be taken by regulation, too.

Oh yes, the British Government shouldn't have to pay anything, let alone even be slightly blamed for the mess.



I couldn't have said it better myself. BP has drilled in other areas (Canada/Netherlands/ect.) where regulations are SO strict, for the first year or so of drilling, it isn't even profitable.

But, BP follows ALL regulations and codes over there (safety wells, other lines, etc.)

American regulations are sub par, and it's really because politics and oil corporations are so intertwined that there doesn't need to be regulations because it'll be 'ok' or because they're our 'buddies'*

*see Bush and preBush presidency

it is true that the us government is also partly to blame

oil companies lobbying the government got exemptions and looser restrictions and Deepwater Horizon (the well that exploded) got off even lighter because it was deemed unlikely to have a major spill

but if bp had thought safety first we probably wouldn't have a problem but they often completely ignored common sense as well their own engineers and technicians just so they save money

employees knew that they could and often were fired if they brought up safety issues that could delay drilling

bp deserves most of the blame but the us government deserves some to

We should blame the inspectors that failed!

it wasn't just the inspectors

bp purposely made a series of decisions just before the explosion that greatly increased the chance of failure

the only way the inspectors could have caught them is to inspect every day