Prime Minister Andy Burnham is under mounting pressure over North Sea oil and gas as the deadline for consultations on two major fields approaches. Environmental groups are urging him to refuse permission for production at the Jackdaw gas field and the Rosebank oil field, citing the fight against climate change. However, opposition politicians, the oil and gas industry, and US President Donald Trump have called for approval, arguing it would protect jobs and reduce household bills.
Consultation Deadlines Loom
On Monday, August 10, a consultation on Jackdaw, a gas field located 150 miles east of Aberdeen, closes. A week later, a consultation on the Rosebank oil field, northwest of Shetland, will conclude. These consultations are the final steps before Burnham must make a decision on whether to allow drilling in these areas, which were originally approved by the Conservatives but quashed by a court in 2025 following a Greenpeace challenge.
The Labour Party is reportedly split on the issue, as weakening environmental commitments could undermine efforts to win back voters who switched to the Greens since 2024. The decision has become a focal point for the Prime Minister's environmental stance.
Environmental Groups Urge Refusal
Lang Banks, director of WWF Scotland, emphasized the gravity of the choice: "There's a clear choice to be made by our politicians: further fuel climate chaos, or support a fair transition to a safer future." He pointed to a summer of extreme heat and devastating wildfires, including near Aberdeen, and said it would be "irresponsible to approve new oil and gas developments that would accelerate climate change and do nothing to lower the energy bills of UK households."
Other environmental advocates argue that the remaining oil and gas in the North Sea would have minimal impact on prices, which are set internationally, or on energy security, but would increase carbon emissions. Ami McCarthy, head of politics at Greenpeace UK, stated: "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. The Government should hold fast on their no new oil and gas commitment. We need true investment in the clean energy industries of the future, which are our only dependable path to good jobs, lower bills, and long-term prosperity."
Supporters Cite Jobs and Energy Security
Proponents of further drilling, including the energy industry, the Conservatives, and some trade unions, argue that it will not significantly affect emissions and is vital for protecting jobs. US President Donald Trump has been a vocal supporter, saying Burnham "sounded terrific" on the issue in their first phone call last month. In that call, Burnham told Trump the UK "can't ignore" North Sea resources and would take "a pragmatic approach" to further drilling.
Scottish MP Graeme Downie stressed the importance of managing the North Sea's decline responsibly: "If we do not proceed with Jackdaw and Rosebank, investment will leave the UK, jobs will disappear and expertise will be lost. We also risk shattering the foundations of our industry and destroying the very skills we need to deliver a low-carbon future for the UK and lead the world on new technology and expertise."
Labour's Manifesto Commitment in Question
Critics within Labour point to the party's 2024 manifesto commitment not to grant new licences for drilling in the North Sea. Labour has said it would honour existing licences, which could allow approval for Jackdaw and Rosebank. Norwich South MP Clive Lewis called it a "clear commitment" and warned that approving production would be "a major step backwards." In a letter to Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh, Lewis wrote: "Analysts have said that the May and June 2026 heatwaves were associated with more than 2,700 excess heat-related deaths across England and Wales. These events are becoming more frequent and severe as climate breakdown intensifies, driven largely by greenhouse gas emissions from the burning of fossil fuels, including oil and gas. Against this background, approving new drilling would undermine efforts to address the climate crisis and put a safe, liveable future further out of reach."
Political and Public Opinion Risks
Polling suggests Labour under Burnham has begun to win back some voters lost to the Greens during Sir Keir Starmer's premiership, but this could be jeopardized if the party appears to weaken its climate commitments. Green leader Zack Polanski described approving Jackdaw and Rosebank as "a dereliction of duty," adding: "Whatever weasel words are used on drilling within new or existing licences, one of the new Prime Minister's first significant decisions would be to break Labour's manifesto pledge. Jackdaw's owner has themselves said that only 27 direct full time jobs would be created if given the go ahead. This has nothing to do with boosting the economy for the people of this country and far more to do with boosting obscene profits for fossil fuel companies and their shareholders."
A Government spokesperson said: "The North Sea remains a vital national asset, supporting jobs, growth and the UK's energy security. We are clear that oil and gas will continue to play an important role in our energy system for decades to come, alongside renewables, nuclear and other low-carbon technologies. Our focus is on providing stability and supporting North Sea workers and communities as they continue to make a vital contribution to the UK's economy."
As the consultations close, Burnham faces a decision that could define his premiership's environmental legacy, balancing economic and energy security concerns against climate commitments and political pressures.
