# Labour MPs press leadership to let Fahnbulleh decide Rosebank’s fate

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/angry-labour-mps-urge-leadership-not-to-overrule-energy-secretary-on-rosebank/
- Published: 2026-10-29T06:00:26+00:00
- Updated: 2026-10-29T06:47:16+00:00
- Original publisher: The Guardian (publisher lean: Left)
- Original article: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/oct/29/labour-mps-rosebank-oilfield-decision-miatta-fahnbulleh-john-healey
- Topics: Americas, Business, Government, Politics, World

## Key points

- Labour MPs want Fahnbulleh to decide Rosebank’s fate without ministerial interference.
- Approval could conflict with Labour’s environmental commitments, MPs argue.
- Rosebank’s forecast tax revenues are about £500m by the end of this parliament.

## Summary

Labour backbenchers are urging the party leadership not to intervene if Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh decides to refuse environmental permission for the Rosebank oilfield. They say approval could undermine Labour’s environmental commitments and have raised concerns about pressure from senior ministers, including Chancellor John Healey.

Fahnbulleh’s aides say she alone will decide after considering the relevant factors, and that no decision has been made. Prime Minister Andy Burnham has also said the decision is hers, though his comments about North Sea reserves and the recently approved Jackdaw gasfield have fuelled speculation that he supports Rosebank. The Treasury says Rosebank tax revenues, estimated at about £500m by the end of this parliament, have been included in forecasts since 2019; it says that does not prevent the field being blocked.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.