Jackdaw move will boost UK energy security - PM

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has insisted the UK will meet its net-zero target despite approving the Jackdaw gas field.

Ministers earlier this week approved the Scottish venture after years of uncertainty and a court case.

The decision drew criticism from some Labour backbenchers and environmentalists, who said it was “disappointing” and showed “the toxic grip fossil fuel lobbyists still hold over our energy policy”.

However, writing about the Jackdaw gas field – which is about 150 miles east of Aberdeen – in The Guardian, Mr Burnham said: “There has been much speculation about what this announcement means for Britain’s commitment to addressing the climate crisis.

“The simple truth is that even as we pursue our ambitious target of net-zero by 2050, we will need oil and gas for years to come as a bridge to that clean-energy future.”

He said the decision would “significantly strengthen energy security by increasing domestic gas production by about six per cent”.

Mr Burnham – who is also facing calls to approve the Rosebank oil field, west of Shetland in Scotland’s north, also moved to reaffirm Labour’s manifesto pledge to block new North Sea licences.

He added: “The climate crisis is no distant threat: it is here, on our doorstep, affecting people’s lives and livelihoods.

“I want Britain to make the energy transition on our terms: reducing our dependence on foreign fossil fuels, supporting good jobs and growing our economy.”

Environmental campaigners slammed the Jackdaw decision, saying it flies in the face of Labour’s manifesto commitment to issue no new oil and gas licences for the North Sea.

Ami McCarthy, Greenpeace UK head of politics, said: “Andy Burnham promised pragmatism, but there is nothing pragmatic about rubber-stamping a project that won’t lower energy bills, won’t boost energy security and will create just 27 full-time jobs.”

Kate Norgrove, WWF chief impact officer, added: “The Government urgently needs to show that it remains 100 per cent committed to the clean energy transition by rejecting the even more damaging Rosebank oil field.”

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