Miatta Fahnbulleh, the United Kingdom's new energy secretary, is facing accusations of evading scrutiny after media were excluded from her first official visit to Aberdeen to meet with oil and gas executives. Fahnbulleh, who was appointed to the role on Monday, also did not issue a post-meeting statement following discussions held in a UK Government office in Scotland's energy hub.
The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) stated that the media blackout occurred because Fahnbulleh was new to the position. However, critics pointed out that she had participated in television and radio interviews in London within 24 hours of taking office.
Scottish Conservative Shadow Secretary Andrew Bowie criticized the move, suggesting it indicated a dismissive attitude towards the oil and gas sector. He argued that the visit presented an opportunity for Fahnbulleh to offer industry reassurance and outline a positive shift in Labour's policy, but instead, no announcement was made. Bowie drew parallels between Fahnbulleh and her predecessor, Ed Miliband, both of whom he stated oppose new oil and gas fields such as Rosebank and Jackdaw. He urged the new government to abolish the energy profits levy and support new oil and gas licenses.
Fahnbulleh has a documented history of opposing new oil and gas projects. In 2022, she tweeted about the necessity of avoiding new oil and gas fields to stay within the 1.5C global warming limit. The following year, she advocated for an end to new fossil fuel projects and for businesses to cease funding them.
As energy secretary, Fahnbulleh will be instrumental in deciding the future of significant projects like the Rosebank oil field and the Jackdaw gas field, which were inherited by Labour. These fields, previously supported by the prior government, faced delays and reassessments due to legal challenges. Labour's manifesto included a pledge to ban new drilling licenses for climate reasons, though Andy Burnham has indicated a desire for a shift in emphasis regarding North Sea projects.
Industry figures, such as Russell Borthwick, chief executive of Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce, have stated that approving Rosebank and Jackdaw would signal the UK's openness to investment, its valuation of domestic energy production, and its commitment to protecting jobs. The SNP's official stance, adopted in 2023, opposes new oil and gas drilling, although this position is not universally held within the party.
SNP Aberdeen Central MSP Jack Middleton commented that the new Energy Secretary's visit should have included a stop at a job center, citing the impact of Labour's policies on Scottish jobs. He argued that destroying Scottish oil and gas jobs only to import energy from carbon-intensive countries lacks a moral basis. Middleton suggested that if Labour continues to treat the industry as a "cash cow," it signifies business as usual rather than the promised "new politics."
A DESNZ spokesperson indicated that Ms Fahnbulleh plans to engage with the media on future visits to Scotland.