The House of Commons has voted down a Conservative amendment to the King's Speech that sought to mandate new oil and gas licences, including for the Rosebank and Jackdaw fields. The motion was defeated by 323 votes to 108, a majority of 215.
Shadow Energy Secretary Claire Coutinho accused Labour whips of instructing MPs to 'vote to shut down the North Sea'. She warned that the Government's stance would increase reliance on higher-emission imports from Qatar or the US, or funnel billions to Norway for North Sea gas.
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband defended Labour's position, reiterating the manifesto commitment against new exploration licences. He noted that £90 billion in private investment had been directed to clean energy since the election and confirmed existing fields would remain operational for their lifetimes.
Mr Miliband stated: 'We're not in favour of a turning off the taps position, but nor are we in favour of drilling every last drop.' The vote underscores the Government's focus on net-zero targets amid ongoing debate over North Sea energy policy.
