Andy Burnham urged to deliver 'real change' and approve new North Sea drilling

By TOM GORDON, SCOTTISH DAILY MAIL DEPUTY POLITICAL EDITOR Published: 19:04, 10 August 2026 | Updated: 19:08, 10 August 2026 Andy Burnham has been warned it would be ‘madness’ and a ‘dereliction of duty’ to block drilling in two massive prospects in the North Sea. As the public consultation on the Jackdaw gas field off Aberdeen closed, the Prime Minister was told to deliver ‘real change’ not more ‘warm words’ to the industry. A second consultation on the Rosebank oil field west of Shetland closes next week. Shadow Scottish Secretary Andrew Bowie said: ‘We must get Britain drilling again. ‘Approving production at these new fields should be an easy decision for the Prime Minister, not a dilemma. ‘Refusing permission for Jackdaw and Rosebank would not only be madness, it would be a dereliction of duty that could signal the death knell of our vital oil and gas industry. ‘These developments will help shape the lives of North Sea workers for years to come by creating thousands of jobs, giving us greater energy security, more tax revenue, and less exposure to global shocks.’ Referring to BP’s recent decision to sell its North Sea operations after 60 years, he added: ‘If BP’s North Sea exit isn’t the wake-up call needed for Labour to lift its damaging ban on new licences and end the Energy Profits Levy, then I don’t know what is. Andy Burnham has been told by Shadow Scottish Secretary Andrew Bowie to get Britain drilling again ‘The sector doesn’t need warm words from Andy Burnham – it needs real change, starting by approving production at Jackdaw and Rosebank as a matter of urgency.’ Rosebank and Jackdaw, both developed by Shell-Equinor joint venture Adura, were approved by the last Tory government. But a successful legal challenge by green campaigners led to delays and a fresh evaluation of their carbon emissions, with the final decision on licensing inherited by Labour. Mr Burnham wants a ‘pragmatic approach’ to North Sea drilling, but he and energy secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh, who has the final say, have yet to commit to licensing them. With energy firms facing a 78 per cent UK windfall tax on profits and SNP hostility to drilling, the oil and gas industry is losing around 1,000 jobs a month as investors steer clear. Russell Borthwick, chief executive of Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce, said: ‘The end of the Jackdaw consultation should also mark the end of the uncertainty surrounding the UK oil and gas sector. ‘The case for approval is overwhelming. Britain still needs gas, our domestic production is falling faster than demand, and Jackdaw alone could provide more than 6 per cent of UK gas supply at peak production – enough to meet the annual heating needs of 1.4 million homes. Rosebank and Jackdaw (pictured) were approved by the last Tory government ‘If we choose not to produce that gas here, we will simply import more from overseas. ‘Jackdaw will support skilled British jobs, tax revenues and strategically important North Sea infrastructure while strengthening our energy security. And it can do all of that while we continue to accelerate the build-out of renewables. ‘It is time to end the madness of turning our backs on our own energy while paying other countries to produce it for us.’ Adura chief executive Neil McCulloch said: ‘Jackdaw and Rosebank are advanced projects of national significance.  'Together, they can strengthen the UK’s energy security, sustain high-quality jobs and apprenticeships, support businesses across the country and generate billions of pounds of economic activity and tax revenues – and they can do so with lower associated carbon emissions than alternatives, such as imported LNG.’ A UK Government spokesman 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.’