Burnham ‘faces rebellion’ from MPs on Rosebank

Andy Burnham reportedly faces opposition from Labour MPs over whether to approve drilling at Rosebank, with 75 MPs said to have privately signed a letter against it. The dispute matters because opponents argue the project would damage the UK’s climate standing without lowering energy bills, while the government has yet to decide whether to grant a licence.

Rosebank is the UK’s largest remaining untapped oil field, about 80 miles north-west of Shetland. A parliamentary private secretary is reportedly considering resigning if approval goes ahead, following recent approval for the Jackdaw gas field; campaigners say Rosebank would have a much greater climate impact, with Greenpeace comparing its emissions to those of 56 coal plants running for a year.