Protesters have claimed that approving fresh drilling for oil and gas at two sites in the North Sea would break Labour's manifesto, amid reports that Prime Minister Andy Burnham is considering the move.
Campaigners from Fossil Free London gathered outside the Department for Energy, Security & Net Zero (DESNZ) on Wednesday to oppose new drilling in the Rosebank and Jackdaw fields.
According to reports, Andy Burnham and his new Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh are considering whether to approve drilling in Rosebank – the biggest undeveloped oil and gas field in the UK off the Scottish coast – after consent was withdrawn in 2025.
Protesters dressed as firefighters
Protesters, who were dressed as firefighters in front of a banner reading “world on fire”, gathered outside the department’s building on Whitehall Place.
They held placards reading “Heat kills, Rosebank fuels it”, “Miatta stop Rosebank” and “2,700 dead in first two heatwaves”.
One held a sign featuring a social media post by former energy secretary Ed Miliband while in opposition in 2023, reading: “(Rosebank is a) colossal waste of taxpayer money and climate vandalism.”
Chants and demands
Protesters also chanted: “Andy, don’t burn them, Rosebank is a climate inferno”, “Hey Labour, don’t you know Rosebank oil has got to go” and “Hey Labour, accept the facts, no new oil will stop Rosebank”.
The protest took place peacefully on the pavement outside the department between 8am and 9.30am, causing minimal disruption with police only appearing briefly at 9am.
Campaigner's statement
Fossil Free London’s director Robin Wells, 33, told the Press Association during the protest: “It’s pointless to have a manifesto commitment to stop oil and gas and then say, ‘we’re just going to approve the largest new fields’. It doesn’t make any sense.”
She added: “We’re here because Andy Burnham gave the British public a massive slap in the face when he announced his new policy, or at least it was rumoured in the press, that they were going to expand North Sea oil and gas drilling.”
Labour's manifesto pledge
Labour’s 2024 election manifesto pledged not to issue any new oil and gas licences, though the Jackdaw gas field off Aberdeen and the Rosebank oil field north west of Shetland already had licences granted in 2022 and 2023.
Environmental campaigners launched a legal challenge over the approvals, off the back of a 2024 Supreme Court ruling that emissions created by burning fossil fuels should be considered when granting planning permission for new drilling sites. This challenge was upheld at the Court of Session in Edinburgh in January last year.
Government response
A DESNZ spokesperson said: “The North Sea remains a vital national asset, supporting jobs, growth and the UK’s energy security.”
They added: “We are clear that oil and gas will continue to play an important role in our energy system for decades to come, alongside renewables, nuclear and other low-carbon technologies. Our focus is on providing stability and ensuring the North Sea continues to make a strong contribution to the UK’s economy and energy security.”
