UK PM Burnham faces pressure as Jackdaw gas field consultation closes
Consultations on two North Sea oil and gas projects end as PM weighs environmental concerns against industry jobs and international pressure.
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Summary, timeline and people extracted by Claude from 3 items across 2 sources · 15h ago. Quotes are verbatim.
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham faces mounting pressure over whether to approve two North Sea energy projects—Jackdaw gas field and Rosebank oil field—as their licensing consultations near closure. Environmental groups urge rejection citing climate change, while the oil and gas industry, Conservative opposition, trade unions, and US President Trump call for approval to protect jobs and energy security. The decision is complicated by internal Labour Party divisions and potential loss of Green voters over environmental commitments.
- Consultations on two major North Sea energy projects (Jackdaw and Rosebank) close within days, forcing an immediate government decision on whether to approve new oil and gas production.
- Environmental groups cite climate change and extreme weather as reasons to reject both projects, while industry and Trump argue UK production protects jobs and is lower-emission than importing from other countries.
- Burnham faces internal Labour Party division on the issue and risks losing Green voters if environmental commitments are watered down.
- Original Conservative approvals were quashed by court after a Greenpeace legal challenge, placing the decision squarely on the current Labour government.
How it unfolded
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A consultation on the Jackdaw gas field (150 miles east of Aberdeen) closes on Monday, while the Rosebank oil field consultation (north-west of Shetland) also closes next Monday.
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Production at both Jackdaw and Rosebank was approved by the Conservatives, but a court quashed those decisions last year after a Greenpeace challenge, leaving the Labour government to decide whether to go ahead.
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Reaction Environmental groups oppose approval
WWF Scotland and Greenpeace UK urge rejection of both projects, citing climate change, extreme heat, wildfires, and arguing the small amount of remaining North Sea oil and gas would not significantly affect UK energy prices or security.
“Trying to squeeze the last few drops of expensive oil and gas out of the North Sea while the world is reeling from climate impacts is beyond ridiculous.”
Ami McCarthy, Greenpeace UK · Mastodon ↗ -
Reaction Industry and Trump support approval
Oil and gas industry, Conservative opposition, trade unions, and US President Trump call for approval, arguing Jackdaw is one of the lowest emission fields globally and that UK production should replace imports from higher-emission countries.
“I think we all recognise that we have got to deal with emissions. But the reality is that, on that journey, we are going to need oil and gas.”
David Whitehouse, Offshore Energy UK · Mastodon ↗ -
Burnham's party is split on the issue. Approval could water down environmental commitments and limit Labour's ability to retain voters who switched to the Greens since 2024.
- 4 weeks quiet
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In their first phone call, Trump said Burnham 'sounded terrific' on the issue. Burnham told Trump the UK 'can't ignore' North Sea resources and would take 'a pragmatic approach' to further drilling.
“can't ignore resources in the North Sea, and said he would take 'a pragmatic approach' to further drilling”
PM Andy Burnham · Mastodon ↗
What people are saying verbatim
“there was a clear choice to be made by our politicians: further fuel climate chaos, or support a fair transition to a safer future”
Lang Banks, Director, WWF Scotland · BBC News ↗
“Trying to squeeze the last few drops of expensive oil and gas out of the North Sea while the world is reeling from climate impacts is beyond ridiculous.”
Ami McCarthy, Head of Politics, Greenpeace UK · BBC News ↗
“I think we all recognise that we have got to deal with emissions. But the reality is that, on that journey, we are going to need oil and gas.”
David Whitehouse, Chief Executive, Offshore Energy UK · BBC News ↗
“We would argue that while we use oil and gas we should prioritise our own and produce and support our own.”
David Whitehouse, Chief Executive, Offshore Energy UK · BBC News ↗
“one in 30 jobs in Scotland were in the oil and gas industry”
David Whitehouse, Chief Executive, Offshore Energy UK · BBC News ↗
“can't ignore resources in the North Sea, and said he would take a pragmatic approach to further drilling”
PM Andy Burnham, Prime Minister · BBC News ↗