'Climate Vandalism': Andy Burnham Hit By Angry Backlash As New Gas Drilling Approved In North Sea

Andy Burnham has been accused of “climate vandalism” after his government gave the go-ahead for a new gas drilling operation to begin in the North Sea.

Energy secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh announced on Wednesday that she has approved exploration at the Jackdaw gas field off the coast of Aberdeen.

The project is one of two – alongside the Rosebank oil field – which were given the green light by the previous Conservative government but then halted because of a legal challenge over environmental concerns last year.

Fahnbulleh confirmed that she has given the green light for Jackdaw, but she has yet to reach a decision on Rosebank.

Burnham said the approval of the Jackdaw gas field will “protect hundreds of jobs and help keep millions of homes warm this winter”.

“At a time when people are really struggling, it’s right that we look in a responsible way at maximising the existing energy reserves we have in Britain that could help,” he added.

But climate activists, who have called on the government to block both projects, react angrily to Jackdaw’s approval.

Green Party leader Zack Polanski said: “This is climate vandalism. Today’s decision by Labour is a betrayal of all of our futures.

“Labour has abandoned all credibility in the fight against climate change. The energy secretary has herself said it will make no difference to energy bills, the health secretary has admitted the summer heatwave added to pressure on the NHS and the industry’s own assessment is that will create only 27 jobs.”

Danny Gross of Friends of the Earth said: “Is the prime minister living in a parallel universe? One where we haven’t just endured our hottest summer on record, with droughts, wildfires and, in all likelihood, the most heat-related deaths on record? 

“Against this backdrop, there’s nothing that justifies giving the go-ahead to a colossal new fossil fuel project in North Sea. The disconnect is absolutely maddening.”

“Jackdaw won’t make a jot of difference to our energy bills, but it will fuel the climate chaos already unfurling in front of us.”

Gross accused the PM was “turning his back on the very people he claims to be on the side of”.

“If he really wants to build a better, fairer Britain, he must transition the country away from expensive, polluting fossil fuels while ensuring no one gets left behind – including workers in the oil and gas industry.”

Kyle Lischak, head of UK at ClientEarth, said: “Further oil and gas from the North Sea will not lower Brits’ ballooning energy bills and will be traded internationally rather than being ring-fenced for domestic use.

“Instead, the companies drilling our oil and gas field will soon leave the empty oilfields with record profits, whilst we pay the price of extreme weather for decades to come.”

Labour’s last election manifesto pledged not to new oil and gas licences for the North Sea.

However, supporters of Jackdaw and Rosebank within the party have argued that neither are new fossil fuel fields, given the wheels were already in motion to tap them ahead of Labour winning power.

Burnham, who has promised to take a “pragmatic” approach to the North Sea, has also come under pressure from Donald Trump to approve new drilling operations.

Welcoming the government’s decision, shadow energy secretary Andrew Bowie said: “At last, Labour have had to be dragged kicking and screaming into approving Jackdaw. But nobody should mistake one gas field for a change of heart.

“Labour’s ban on new licences and punishing windfall tax are hammering North Sea investment and putting jobs at risk.

“This should be the start, not the end. Labour must approve Rosebank, end the ban on licences, and scrap the energy profits levy. That is what a Conservative government would do, and it is what this prime minister should do if he wants anyone to believe he is serious.”

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