Prime Minister Andy Burnham is set to address the nation today, hours after the UK Government approved drilling in the Jackdaw gas field in the North Sea, a decision that has sparked a major rebellion and expected protests outside Parliament.
The North Sea Transition Authority gave the green light to the project, ending months of uncertainty. Owner Adura claims the field could deliver approximately 6% of UK North Sea gas production. Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh authorised the NSTA to grant drilling consent, stating the move will "support the country's energy security with homegrown gas this winter."
Burnham Defends Decision
Burnham said the decision will "protect hundreds of jobs and help keep millions of homes warm," but emphasised it would not compromise the Government's renewable energy targets. He stated: "At a time when people are really struggling, it's right that we look in a responsible way at maximising the existing energy reserves we have in Britain that could help. We're committed to moving towards renewable energy and reaching net zero by 2050. But even on our ambitious climate path, we'll still require oil and gas as part of our energy needs for decades to come."
Later today, Burnham will face questions at Prime Minister's Questions, with the Green Party and Liberal Democrats expected to ramp up pressure. Protests outside Parliament are also expected to grow.
Background and Legal Challenges
The Jackdaw project is one of two – along with the Rosebank oil field off Shetland – which received approval from the previous Conservative government. Both secured drilling licences in June 2022, but this was overturned by Scottish courts following a legal challenge from environmental campaigners. This followed a UK Supreme Court ruling requiring developers to factor in the climate impact of burning fossil fuels within their planning applications.
Fresh public consultations on the proposals were carried out earlier this year, closing in August, before the Government rubber-stamped Jackdaw on Wednesday morning.
Official Statement and Pending Decision
Announcing the decision, Fahnbulleh said: "Following careful consideration of all relevant factors, I have agreed that the regulator can grant consent for gas to be produced at Jackdaw, which will begin to supply the UK with gas from this winter thanks to the highly skilled and vital North Sea workers. This decision will support the country's energy security with homegrown gas this winter and help minimise the UK's use of imported higher emission fuels as we continue our transition to renewables and nuclear. The decision is compatible with our legally binding climate commitments, and we remain resolute in ending new licences for oil and gas and achieving net zero by 2050."
A separate decision on Rosebank, the largest untapped oil field in the North Sea, is still pending, with Fahnbulleh indicating it will take "a bit longer." Burnham had previously stated he would "take a pragmatic approach when it comes to the North Sea" upon taking office over the summer. Labour's 2024 manifesto pledged to grant no new oil and gas licences in the North Sea, but advocates for Jackdaw and Rosebank within the party have contended that neither constitutes a new fossil fuel field, given that plans to exploit them were already well underway before Labour assumed power.
