Opposition Leader Kemi Badenoch has accused Prime Minister Andy Burnham of delaying crucial decisions on North Sea oil and gas fields, alleging the move is politically motivated by an upcoming by-election.
Badenoch stated that Burnham has postponed decisions on the Rosebank and Jackdaw oil and gas fields, projects she claims were approved by the previous Conservative government. She asserted that these delays create uncertainty for thousands of workers in the domestic oil and gas industry and risk national and economic security.
According to Badenoch, the gas from the Jackdaw field could have been supplying approximately 1.4 million homes by Christmas, reducing reliance on foreign imports and generating an estimated £1.4 billion in tax revenue that could have lowered energy bills. She argued that continuing to import energy from countries like Qatar and Saudi Arabia has a larger carbon footprint and is detrimental to the environment.
Badenoch criticized the government's approach to climate change targets, suggesting a shift towards domestic oil and gas production, the elimination of levies on energy bills, and the reduction of regulatory burdens on the industry. She contrasted Burnham's by-election victory in Makerfield with the Conservative win in Aberdeen South, framing the latter as a vote for the tens of thousands employed in the UK oil and gas sector.
The Prime Minister's office had reportedly briefed journalists that Burnham would adopt a pragmatic stance on oil and gas, with an announcement expected at the Trades Union Congress (TUC) in Brighton. However, Badenoch claims the TUC speech was canceled and a planned trip to Aberdeen shelved. She linked this to a by-election in Holborn and St Pancras, a constituency with a significant Green Party presence, suggesting Burnham is hesitant to make a decision that could alienate voters in a Green Party-friendly area.
Badenoch also referenced the previous government's efforts to approve the Rosebank and Jackdaw licenses, which she said faced legal challenges from environmental groups and were further delayed by a consultation process initiated by Keir Starmer and Ed Miliband when they entered office.
"If he hadn’t bottled it, the gas from Jackdaw could be flowing directly into the grid, feeding some 1.4 million homes, by Christmas," Badenoch stated. "That would reduce our dependence on foreign gas imports this winter, secure vital jobs in our domestic oil and gas industry, and bring in tax revenues... that could be used to bring down energy bills."