Prime Minister Andy Burnham is set for a midday Commons clash with Kemi Badenoch at Prime Minister's Questions, following his approval of the controversial Jackdaw gas field. The decision comes after Mr Burnham said he would "take a pragmatic approach when it comes to the North Sea" since taking power in the summer.
Pressure from Environmental Groups
Mr Burnham has faced pressure from environmental groups to "stick to the spirit of Labour's manifesto commitment" and refuse consent for either of the schemes. The 2024 manifesto committed to issuing no new oil and gas licences for the North Sea.
Support Within the Party and US Pressure
However, supporters of Jackdaw and Rosebank within the party have argued that neither are new fossil fuel fields, given the wheels were in motion to tap them ahead of Labour winning power.
Mr Burnham has also faced pressure from US President Donald Trump to maximise oil and gas production from the North Sea. Donald Trump has claimed the UK is "sitting on top of gold", and has urged Mr Burnham to approve more drilling in the basin, as he did to former prime minister Sir Keir Starmer.
