Shadow energy secretary urges government to approve Rosebank and Jackdaw drilling
The shadow energy secretary demanded that the government stop delaying and approve drilling at the Rosebank oilfield and Jackdaw gas field, citing job losses in the North Sea sector.
In a parliamentary debate, the shadow energy secretary pressed the government to end what he described as a campaign against Britain’s North Sea oil and gas and to green-light drilling at Rosebank, the country’s largest untapped oilfield, and the Jackdaw gas field. Both projects have been on hold after a climate-based legal challenge, and the debate highlighted that roughly 1,000 jobs per month are being lost in the sector.
He accused ministers of “dither, delay and prevarication” and demanded a clear answer now that the public consultation has closed. Climate minister Katie White said the matter will be decided after a quasi-judicial process that ended in August, emphasizing the need to respect due process. Labour MP Caterhine Fookes countered that approving the fields would undermine the UK’s carbon-reduction goals, while Conservative MP Douglas Lumsden warned that continued delays threaten further job losses.
Why it matters
The decision will affect thousands of North Sea jobs and the UK’s balance between energy security and climate targets.
How the sides frame it
LOW AGREEMENTLeft-leaning coverage stresses that new licences would add virtually no production, highlight rising costs and job losses, and doubt any local economic benefit; Centrist coverage simply reports the pending approval timing, legal challenge and environmental objections without judgment; Right-leaning coverage frames the issue as government obstruction harming thousands of jobs and urges immediate approval.
LEFT
Left-leaning coverage downplays the economic benefits of drilling, emphasizing minimal production gains, high costs and declining employment in Aberdeen.
CENTER
Centrist coverage presents the approval process and associated controversy in a neutral tone, noting the timeline, legal challenge and environmental concerns.
RIGHT
Right-leaning coverage portrays the government as needlessly delaying drilling, stressing job losses and accusing ministers of dithering.
The left emphasises
- additional licences would raise production by under 1% this decade
- operating costs per barrel have risen 39% since 2020
- sector jobs fell 11% and employment down 8% since 2015
The right emphasises
- roughly 1,000 jobs per month are being lost in the sector
- shadow energy secretary accused ministers of “dither, delay and prevarication”
- calls to green-light drilling at Rosebank and Jackdaw
In this story
