A North Sea oil operator has warned it may be forced to cut jobs unless the UK government gives faster approval to new drilling projects, adding to mounting pressure on ministers over the future of the industry. The warning highlights ongoing tension between the government's energy and climate policies and the North Sea sector's calls for continued investment certainty, with jobs and regional economic impact at stake.

The firm is pressing the government to greenlight further drilling, arguing that continued delays threaten employment in the region reliant on oil and gas work. The dispute reflects a broader debate over how quickly the UK should wind down fossil fuel extraction while balancing energy security and workforce concerns in North Sea communities.