Tories taunt Andy Burnham's 'terrified' oil minister for refusing to face the Press

By TOM GORDON, SCOTTISH DAILY MAIL DEPUTY POLITICAL EDITOR Published: 21:03, 23 July 2026 | Updated: 21:03, 23 July 2026 Andy Burnham’s ‘terrified’ Energy Secretary hid from scrutiny on her first official visit to Aberdeen to meet oil and gas executives on Thursday. Miatta Fahnbulleh excluded the media and failed to issue a statement after meeting North Sea leaders in the energy capital. The former economist has previously opposed new oil and gas fields and called for Net Zero targets to be accelerated. The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) claimed the media shut-out was because Ms Fahnbulleh had only been appointed on Monday. But she gave TV and radio interviews in London within 24 hours of taking up the post. The Scottish Tories claimed she was scared of defending Labour’s ban on new drilling and the crippling 78 per cent windfall tax on energy firms, which are blamed for 1,000 job losses a month. Shadow Scottish Secretary Andrew Bowie said: ‘It speaks volumes for Labour’s dismissive attitude towards oil and gas that a terrified Miatta Fahnbulleh ran away from any sort of scrutiny on her first visit to Aberdeen as Energy Secretary. ‘This was the perfect opportunity for her to give the industry a vote of confidence by outlining a positive shift in Labour’s oil and gas policy. Miatta Fahnbulleh arrives for the first cabinet meeting in Downing Street Fahnbulleh has previously opposed new oil and gas fields and called for Net Zero targets to be accelerated ‘Instead, nothing was announced in this tick box exercise, highlighting Miatta Fahnbulleh’s appointment as new Energy Secretary hasn’t changed the fact it’s the same old Labour Party. ‘It’s becoming clearer by the day that she is just a replica of her predecessor Ed Miliband, both of whom oppose new fields like Rosebank and Jackdaw. ‘I hope this visit to Aberdeen has sent a stark warning to her that Labour must finally scrap the energy profits levy and urgently support new oil and gas licences.’ Ms Fahnbulleh has a long history of opposing oil and gas projects. In 2022 she wrote on Twitter: ‘To have a shot at staying within 1.5C global warming, we can’t have any new oil or gas fields.’ As Energy Secretary, she will take the key decision on whether to licence the Rosebank oil and Jackdaw gas projects inherited by Labour. Backed by the last government, the fields, which can supply ten per cent of UK needs, were delayed and reassed because of legal challenges. Labour’s manifesto promised to ban new drilling licences for the sake of the climate, but Mr Burnham wants ‘a change of emphasis’ on North Sea projects. Oil bosses privately expect Rosebank and Jackdaw to be approved and other fields rejected, but certainty could take months. Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce chief executive Russell Borthwick said: ‘Approving Rosebank and Jackdaw would send a clear signal that the UK remains open to investment, values domestic energy production and is serious about protecting high-quality jobs.’ The SNP’s official position, dating from 2023, is a ‘presumption against’ new oil and gas drilling, but several of its MPs and MSPs disagree with it. SNP Aberdeen Central MSP Jack Middleton said: ‘If the Labour Government want to understand the damage being done to Scotland, the new Energy Secretary’s first visit in Aberdeen should be the job centre. Labour policy is ruining up to 1,000 jobs a month. ‘There is no moral high ground in destroying Scottish oil and gas jobs only to sponsor those very same jobs in countries half-way around the world through carbon intensive imports.’ A DESNZ spokesman said Ms Fahnbulleh would speak to the media on future Scottish visits.