Andy Burnham is poised to approve drilling of the Jackdaw gas field in the North Sea on Wednesday, it is understood. The Prime Minister is expected to give the development the green light on following months of pressure from opposition parties and his own MPs.
He has said he would “take a pragmatic approach when it comes to the North Sea” since coming to power in the summer.
The Jackdaw gas field was approved by the former Conservative government in 2022 but was delayed by a legal ruling from a Scottish court when environmental groups argued consent was given without fully considering the climate impact.
A decision on Jackdaw is “imminent” but a decision on the Rosebank oil and gas field is set to take “a bit longer”, Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh said last Thursday.
The Prime Minister added that a verdict on the North Sea projects “will come shortly”.
He said: “We’re not backing away from them, but that’s a matter that will be addressed in due course.”
Mr Burnham is maintaining the Labour manifesto moratorium on any new North Sea licences being issued.
Industry bodies have argued that starting production at the sites would provide much-needed jobs and improve the UK’s energy security as overseas conflicts threaten supply.
The Government will announce its long-awaited decision on the future of a new gas drilling operation (Image: Getty)
But environmentalists fear Jackdaw’s gas will hamper efforts to slash planet-warming carbon emissions as deadly heatwaves and extreme weather affect people across the globe.
Jackdaw, which is about 150 miles (241.4km) east of Aberdeen, is a gas field which its operators say could be connected to the UK network within months.
The Conservatives had accused Mr Burnham of “dithering and delaying” on the approval.
The Prime Minister was said to be putting off a decision on the Jackdaw gas field until after the crunch Holborn and St Pancras by-election due to fears of the threat from the Green Party.
Shadow Energy Secretary Andrew Bowie MP 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. MPs could soon have the chance to vote on ending the ban – they must take it.”
“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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Energy experts have warned Jackdaw’s approval will have no impact on energy bills, which have risen as a result of the increase in wholesale gas prices, driven by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
Jess Ralston, analyst at the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU), said: Let’s be clear, approving Jackdaw won’t do anything meaningful to bring down energy bills or improve the UK’s energy security, which the Government has said is its priority given high levels of public concern.
“The field is expected to supply only a minuscule share of UK gas demand for a limited period, and the gas will still be sold at international market prices, leaving households and businesses exposed to the same volatile global markets that have driven up bills in recent years by the actions of Presidents Putin and Trump.”
Andy Burnham Set to Approve Controversial Jackdaw Gas Field
Andy Burnham’s decision to approve the controversial Jackdaw gas field in the North Sea has placed Britain’s energy future back at the centre of a fierce political debate. The project, which has faced years of legal challenges and opposition from environmental campaigners, represents a significant test of the government’s approach to energy security, domestic production and its commitment to tackling climate change.
The approval, announced in October 2026, comes at a time when international instability and rising wholesale gas prices have intensified concerns about Britain’s reliance on imported energy. Supporters argue that developing domestic resources could help maintain supplies, protect industrial jobs and provide greater certainty for the country’s energy system.
Opponents, however, warn that expanding fossil fuel production risks undermining Britain’s climate ambitions while doing little to reduce the bills paid by ordinary households.
For Burnham, the Jackdaw decision illustrates the difficult choices facing a government attempting to balance economic growth, energy security and environmental responsibilities.
A controversial project returns to the spotlight
The Jackdaw gas field lies approximately 150 miles east of Aberdeen in the North Sea. Developed by Shell and now associated with the Adura joint venture alongside Norway’s Equinor, the project has been presented by its backers as an important source of additional domestic gas.
The field received approval under the previous Conservative government in 2022. However, its development was subsequently held up after a legal challenge raised questions about whether the environmental consequences of burning the extracted gas had been properly considered.
The legal dispute became part of a wider debate about how governments assess new oil and gas developments in an era of increasingly urgent climate concerns.
The courts ruled that the original approvals for Jackdaw and the separate Rosebank oil field were unlawful because the assessment had failed to account adequately for emissions resulting from the eventual use of the fuels produced.
The projects therefore required further environmental assessment before the government could determine whether development should proceed.
That process placed Jackdaw under intense scrutiny. Ministers had to consider the potential economic benefits alongside the project’s environmental consequences and the legal requirements governing offshore energy development.
The latest approval brings one stage of that dispute to a conclusion, although the wider argument over Britain’s future use of North Sea resources remains far from settled.
Why the government supports domestic gas production
The government has argued that oil and gas will continue to play a role in Britain’s energy system while the country develops cleaner alternatives.
Gas remains important for heating many homes, supplying certain industrial processes and supporting electricity generation when renewable sources cannot meet demand. Although Britain is expanding renewable energy, the transition away from fossil fuels cannot happen instantly.
Supporters of Jackdaw say domestic production could help bridge that gap.
They argue that producing gas in British waters may reduce some dependence on overseas suppliers and help maintain the infrastructure, technical expertise and skilled workforce associated with the North Sea industry.
The project could also support employment across a wider supply chain, including engineering firms, maintenance contractors, transport operators and businesses providing equipment and offshore services.
For communities connected to the energy industry, these considerations are particularly important. Offshore production has supported jobs and economic activity in Scotland for decades, and workers are concerned about what the transition to cleaner energy will mean for their livelihoods.
Industry representatives have therefore urged the government to avoid policies that could accelerate the decline of existing operations before alternative employment opportunities are sufficiently developed.
Burnham has previously indicated that he wants a pragmatic approach to the North Sea, acknowledging the difficulties faced by workers affected by the energy transition.
The Jackdaw decision reflects that argument: domestic production should be considered alongside Britain’s long-term environmental objectives rather than treated as an issue with only one possible answer.
Will Jackdaw reduce household energy bills?
One of the most important questions surrounding the project is whether additional British gas production will make energy cheaper for consumers.
The answer is more complicated than supporters and critics sometimes suggest.
Increasing domestic supply can contribute to the overall energy balance, but gas prices are heavily influenced by international markets. Britain’s producers sell into a market shaped by global demand, supply disruptions, geopolitical tensions and competition between countries seeking secure energy supplies.
As a result, producing more gas within British waters does not automatically mean that households will receive lower bills.
Energy analysts have warned that Jackdaw alone is unlikely to make a substantial difference to domestic energy costs. The volume of gas produced, the duration of production and movements in international prices will all influence its practical effect.
If global prices remain high, consumers may continue to face expensive energy even as additional gas comes from the North Sea.
This distinction matters because energy affordability has become a major concern for families and businesses. Households want reliable heating and electricity without having to devote an increasingly large share of their income to essential bills.
A government approving additional gas production will therefore face questions about how the decision translates into tangible benefits for consumers.
The project may contribute to supply, but it should not be presented as a guaranteed solution to high energy prices.
Environmental campaigners raise concerns
Environmental organisations have strongly opposed the development, arguing that new fossil fuel projects risk extending Britain’s dependence on carbon-intensive energy.
Their concerns focus not only on emissions produced during drilling and processing but also on the carbon dioxide released when the extracted gas is burned.
This distinction became central to the legal challenge that delayed Jackdaw. Assessing the environmental consequences of a gas field requires consideration of the wider lifecycle of the fuel, rather than examining offshore operations in isolation.
Campaigners argue that expanding fossil fuel production could make it more difficult for Britain to meet legally binding emissions targets.
They also question whether the project offers sufficient benefits to justify its environmental costs, particularly if the gas does little to lower energy bills or significantly reduce dependence on imports.
For these groups, the government’s decision represents a test of whether its climate commitments will guide practical policy when they conflict with demands for additional fossil fuel production.
Supporters of the project reject the suggestion that domestic gas and climate action must be treated as mutually exclusive. They argue that Britain will continue to require gas during the transition and that domestic production can be assessed alongside investment in renewable energy.
The disagreement therefore centres on both timing and priorities: how quickly Britain should reduce fossil fuel use, and how much additional extraction can be justified while that transition takes place.
The political pressure surrounding Andy Burnham
The Jackdaw decision has created political challenges for Burnham from different directions.
Conservative politicians have argued that the government should go further by supporting additional North Sea developments, ending restrictions on new licences and reconsidering taxes affecting the industry.
From their perspective, approving Jackdaw should be part of a broader strategy to encourage investment, support jobs and maintain Britain’s domestic energy capacity.
Some industry representatives have similarly called for greater certainty over future projects, arguing that businesses need a clear policy framework before committing substantial sums to offshore infrastructure.
Environmental campaigners and some Labour supporters, meanwhile, have criticised the approval because they believe it conflicts with the spirit of Labour’s commitment to stop issuing new oil and gas licences.
The distinction between granting a new licence and approving development under an existing licence has become particularly significant.
Jackdaw already had a licence, but the project required further environmental consent following the court ruling. The government has argued that the decision concerns an existing development rather than a wholesale reversal of its licensing policy.
Critics nevertheless maintain that approving additional fossil fuel production sends a broader political signal about the government’s willingness to prioritise energy supply over environmental concerns.
Burnham must therefore explain how the decision fits into a consistent long-term strategy rather than allowing it to be interpreted as an isolated response to short-term pressure.
The future of Britain’s North Sea industry
Jackdaw is also important because it could influence the debate surrounding other offshore developments, particularly the Rosebank oil field.
Although the two projects are separate and require their own decisions, both have become symbols of the wider argument over Britain’s energy future.
Industry representatives believe that maintaining offshore production can support employment, generate tax revenues and preserve skills that might otherwise disappear.
They also warn that if domestic production falls more quickly than demand, Britain may become more dependent on imported oil and gas.
Environmental campaigners counter that continued investment in fossil fuels could divert money, workers and political attention away from renewable energy, energy efficiency and other technologies needed to reduce emissions.
They argue that a managed transition should provide workers with realistic alternatives rather than prolonging dependence on industries whose long-term role is expected to diminish.
The government must consider both arguments when developing its energy policy.
A successful transition will require more than announcing new energy projects or setting ambitious climate targets. It will also require investment in infrastructure, workforce training, reliable electricity supplies and affordable alternatives for households and businesses.
The challenge is to ensure that the move towards cleaner energy does not create unnecessary economic disruption while still delivering meaningful reductions in emissions.
What happens next?
The approval of Jackdaw means attention will now turn to the project’s development, its expected production timetable and the government’s handling of the wider North Sea industry.
The operators will need to proceed in accordance with the relevant regulatory requirements, while ministers will face continued scrutiny over the environmental and economic implications of the decision.
The government will also need to demonstrate that its approach to domestic gas production is consistent with its wider climate commitments.
For households, the most immediate concern will remain the cost and reliability of energy. For workers in the North Sea, the key questions will involve employment, investment and whether the industry can maintain a viable future during the transition.
For environmental campaigners, the focus will be on emissions and whether the government is doing enough to accelerate the development of cleaner energy sources.
These priorities will not always align, making further political disputes likely.
Ultimately, Jackdaw highlights the difficult balance between meeting Britain’s energy needs today and preparing for a lower-carbon future.
Burnham’s approval provides a route for the project to move forward, but it does not resolve the fundamental questions surrounding energy prices, climate policy or the long-term role of the North Sea.
The real test for the government will be whether it can turn its decision into a coherent energy strategy that supports workers, protects consumers, maintains reliable supplies and delivers progress towards Britain’s environmental goals.