STEPHEN DAISLEY: Andy Burnham isn’t really the man for this moment… yet it’s down to him to break the Net Zero shackles and recharge Great Britain
The Daily Mail columnist Stephen Daisley argues that reports Andy Burnham is about to approve production at the Jackdaw gas field are welcome but only a "half measure," since the government is reportedly not extending the same green light to the larger Rosebank field. He contends that leaving North Sea oil and gas undeveloped during an energy crisis is untenable, given volatile global supply, cost-of-living pressures and job losses in the sector, and accuses "Net Zero fundamentalists" of prioritising ideology over economic wellbeing.
Jackdaw was originally approved under the previous Conservative government but stalled after legal challenges from environmental campaigners; courts later ruled that approvals for both Jackdaw and Rosebank (green-lit in 2023) had been granted unlawfully due to inadequate consideration of climate impact. Rosebank, off Shetland, is estimated to hold 300–500 million barrels of crude. Daisley criticises the Prime Minister for indecision and highlights the toll on Aberdeen's oil and gas workers and wider economy, with redundancies, falling living standards and outward migration from the region.
In short
- Burnham reportedly set to approve Jackdaw gas field production
- Rosebank field, holding 300–500m barrels, not yet approved
- Columnist says Aberdeen's oil workers face job losses and hardship
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Supporters of approving North Sea fields argue that domestic production could strengthen energy security, limit exposure to volatile global supplies and support jobs and communities facing decline. They see continued development as a pragmatic response to cost pressures, while noting that imported fuels also carry climate impacts and that production can be subject to environmental safeguards.
The case against
Opponents argue that approving new oil and gas fields risks locking in fossil fuel production and emissions when climate goals require a managed shift to cleaner energy. They contend that new fields may not meaningfully lower bills or improve security if their output is sold into global markets, and that investment and support should instead help workers and regions move towards low-carbon industries.
Explained simply
North Sea oil and gas fields supply energy and support jobs, especially around Aberdeen. Jackdaw and Rosebank are two offshore fields: Jackdaw is a gas field, while Rosebank is a larger oil and gas field west of Shetland.
Both projects received approval under the previous Conservative government, but courts later ruled that the approvals had not properly considered the effects on the climate. The decisions have left the government weighing energy production and jobs against its climate commitments and the effects of burning fossil fuels.
Andy Burnham is the mayor of Greater Manchester and a senior Labour politician; decisions on North Sea licences rest with the UK government. The debate matters because the UK still relies on energy from abroad, while new domestic production could affect supply, prices and employment, as well as the country’s progress towards its climate targets.
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