The Conservatives have called on Prime Minister Andy Burnham to stop “dithering and delaying” and approve more North Sea oil and gas drilling, following last Thursday’s by-election in Holborn and St Pancras.
Pressure mounts on PM over Jackdaw gas field
Shadow Energy Secretary Andrew Bowie said Mr Burnham had been putting off a decision on the Jackdaw gas field until after the crunch by-election due to fears of the threat from the Green Party. Mr Bowie insisted that the Prime Minister no longer has an excuse following the ballot.
The Conservatives are also urging the PM to approve the Rosebank oil field, end the ban on new oil and gas licences, and scrap the temporary windfall tax on the profits of oil and gas companies.
Bowie: ‘Approve Jackdaw immediately’
Mr Bowie said: “Andy Burnham is dithering and delaying. He has sat on a gas field that is ready to go, because he was frightened of the Green Party in Camden. The by-election is over and his excuse has gone with it, so he should approve Jackdaw immediately.
“If the Prime Minister finally signs it off, nobody should mistake one gas field for a change of heart, because Labour’s ban on new licences and its punishing windfall tax are bleeding the North Sea of investment and the jobs that go with it.
“Approve Jackdaw, approve Rosebank, end the ban on licences, scrap the Energy Profits Levy. That is what a Conservative Government would do, and it is what this Prime Minister should do if he wants anyone to believe he is serious.”
Labour’s stance and response
Labour’s 2024 general election manifesto pledged a ban on new North Sea oil drilling. However, last month Prime Minister Andy Burnham said he would be “pragmatic” in relation to North Sea oil and gas amid looming decisions on Jackdaw and Rosebank.
A Labour Party spokesperson said: “Just this weekend Kemi Badenoch’s Shadow Chancellor slammed the mess the Tories left behind when they were kicked out of office.
“They left our economy in a dire state and completely failed to secure our energy supply over 14 long years. They should be apologising to the British people, not lecturing those who are now fixing the damage they left.”
