Shadow energy secretary urges government to decide on Rosebank and Jackdaw

Shadow energy secretary Andrew Bowie has urged the government to make a definitive decision on the Rosebank and Jackdaw oil and gas fields, arguing that the administration can no longer rely on procedural delays or consultation processes. Bowie stated that the industry and workers in Aberdeen and across the United Kingdom require an immediate answer, asserting that the current approach has involved excessive dithering and prevarication. He highlighted the recent appointment of a new prime minister and secretary of state as a moment for a new direction in energy policy, emphasising that the sector and its thousands of employees need clarity on their future.

Climate minister Katie White responded by confirming that the consultation on whether to approve the projects closed in August, following the withdrawal of consents in 2025 due to concerns over project emissions. White insisted that the government is committed to allowing the robust process to take its course, warning that any interference could prejudice the outcome and necessitate a re-run. She stated that the current secretary of state for energy, Miatta Fahnbulleh, will take a decision in due course, maintaining that the government is acting in accordance with due process. White further contended that the administration has moved at pace on energy matters, particularly regarding its clean energy mission, while addressing a separate question from Scottish National Party MSP Graham Leadbitter.

Bowie criticised the previous energy minister, Ed Miliband, for refusing to fast-track a decision and for acting against the national interest. He noted that the Conservative government had previously approved the projects before the decision was overruled, and questioned whether Labour would finally approve the licences or continue a campaign against North Sea oil and gas. Bowie described the potential refusal as madness and catastrophic for the United Kingdom, arguing that approving production at both fields should be an easy decision for the new prime minister. He pointed to BP’s exit from the North Sea and Shell’s decision to move some of its Aberdeen workforce to London as evidence that the sector is in the dark and that the government must act decisively.

In the same parliamentary session, Liberal Democrat energy spokesperson Pippa Heylings raised climate change concerns, citing the Dunwich wildfires that occurred near the Sizewell B nuclear plant this summer as a reason for the government not to approve North Sea oil and gas licences. Bowie, who replaced Claire Coutinho in the shadow role this month, maintained that the response from the energy minister indicated that the appointment of Andy Burnham as prime minister had not changed the fundamental stance of the Labour Party. He continued to press for a green light for the fields, stating that the sector’s future remains in balance despite the closure of the consultation period.