Politics latest: Burnham under pressure to approve Rosebank oil field after green light for Jackdaw drilling

Energy secretary under pressure to approve separate Rosebank oil and gas field

Miatta Fahnbulleh is now under pressure to approve the separate Rosebank oil and gas field following today’s announcement.

The decision surrounding the largest untapped oil field in the North Sea is being made separately, with the energy secretary saying it would take “a bit longer”.

Both drilling projects were approved by the Tory government in 2022, but the licenses were overturned by the Scottish courts after a challenge from environmental campaigners.

The Jackdaw and Rosebank gas fields are owned by Adura, a North Sea joint venture between Shell and Equinor.

Adura boss Neil McCulloch said: “Jackdaw represents a significant prize in its own right: £2.1 billion of investment and enough gas to heat the equivalent of around 1.4 million UK homes at peak production.

“Our attention now turns to Rosebank. It follows Jackdaw in the regulatory process, but the case for approval is equally strong. We believe that applying the same rigorous, evidence-based approach can lead to a similarly positive decision.”

Scottish Tory leader Russell Findlay said: “Andy Burnham must now stop dithering and give Rosebank the green light without any further delay.”

However, climate campaigners have urged the government to reject approval of the “even more damaging” project.

Harriette Boucher21 October 2026 09:24

Government faces backlash after approving drilling in Jackdaw gas field

The government is facing intense backlash after ministers pproved plans to begin drilling in the Jackdaw gas field in the North Sea after months of speculation over the decision.

Energy secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh gave approval for the project on Wednesday, in a move she said will “support the country’s energy security with homegrown gas this winter”.

Green Party leader Zack Polanski said the decision to approve Jackdaw was “climate vandalism”.

He said: “Today’s decision by Labour is a betrayal of all of our futures. Labour has abandoned all credibility in the fight against climate change.”

Kate Norgrove, WWF chief impact officer, said: “This is a disappointing decision and the Government now urgently needs to show that it remains 100% committed to the clean energy transition by rejecting the even more damaging Rosebank oil field.”

Tessa Khan, executive director of campaign group Uplift, said Labour’s climate credibility is “on the line now” with Rosebank becoming the defining test.

She said: “Approving it would see the Government knowingly breach safe climate limits.”