Labour's own departmental figures show that more than 100,000 North Sea oil and gas jobs are expected to disappear by 2050, an 80 per cent decline since the party took office in 2024. The projection matters because it comes as ministers weigh whether to approve new drilling at two Scottish fields, Rosebank and Jackdaw, and as reports suggest the government may instead spend billions importing foreign gas, prompting criticism that the policy undermines UK energy security and livelihoods.

Freedom of Information data from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero shows total North Sea oil jobs, direct and indirect, falling from 136,675 in 2024 to 115,720 this year, and to just 23,584 by 2050, a loss of 113,091 posts. Over half the workforce is projected to be gone by 2035. Ministers are expected to rule within a month on Rosebank and Jackdaw, with reports suggesting Jackdaw will be approved but not Rosebank; developers say approving both could support 3,500 jobs and generate over £20billion. The Conservatives, who obtained the figures, accused Labour of "economic insanity", while a DESNZ spokesman said oil and gas would remain important "for decades to come" during the transition to clean power.