Labour Energy Secretary poised to reject Rosebank oil project after approving Jackdaw gas field

Labour’s Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh gave the go-ahead to the Jackdawn gas field, a development that could supply gas for roughly 1.4 million homes and add a £2.9 billion boost to the economy. Hours later she signalled she will likely turn down the Rosebank oilfield, a much larger project containing up to 500 million barrels of oil and projected to emit about seven times the carbon of Jackdawn. Union chiefs and several Labour MPs have pressed the government to approve Rosebank, while environmental campaigners and left-wing MPs oppose it on climate grounds.

The issue attracted remarks from US President Donald Trump, who praised the Jackdawn approval and called for “full blast” North Sea drilling, and from Conservative leaders urging the move for national security. Labour’s 2024 manifesto pledged no new licences, yet both sites had already been cleared after legal challenges, sparking internal party tension.