Prime Minister Andy Burnham is facing intensifying pressure over the future of North Sea oil and gas as a public consultation on the Jackdaw gas field closes later today, with a parallel consultation on the Rosebank oil field due to end on Monday. The overlapping deadlines have sharpened attention on a decision that could determine whether new fossil fuel production goes ahead off the coast of Scotland, with environmental campaigners, unions, industry figures and even the US president weighing in on opposing sides.
Jackdaw sits roughly 150 miles east of Aberdeen and is owned by Adura, a joint venture between energy giants Shell and Equinor. Rosebank, meanwhile, lies north-west of Shetland. Both projects were originally given the green light under the previous Conservative government, but a court quashed those approvals last year following a legal challenge from Greenpeace, leaving the decision in the hands of Burnham's Labour administration.
" alt="A map of the North Sea showing the Jackdaw and Rosebank fields relative to the mainland and other island groups">The renewed Jackdaw consultation was opened by the Offshore Petroleum Regulator for Environment and Decommissioning (OPRED) on 7 July 2026 as a further-information round tied to the original 2021 case file, according to a government public notice. Adura has said the consultation window runs until 10 August 2026 and forms a necessary regulatory step before any production can begin, as set out on the company's own consultation page.
Why does Jackdaw matter for UK energy supply?
Adura's chief executive has previously argued that the field is central to avoiding shortages this winter. In earlier coverage, Adura chief executive Neil McCulloch warned that the UK risks winter gas shortages if Jackdaw is not approved, saying the field could supply around 6% of the country's gas needs. This week, Adura submitted updated emissions figures for the project, saying Jackdaw's output would amount to less than 0.02% of global emissions, according to a report by the Telegraph. That claim builds on findings covered in our earlier report that Adura's updated assessment described the field's climate impact as negligible, a conclusion the company was required to produce after the original approval was overturned for failing to account for emissions.
What have campaigners said about the plans?
Environmental groups have called on Burnham to block both projects outright. Lang Banks, director of WWF Scotland, framed the decision in stark terms:
There was "a clear choice to be made by our politicians: further fuel climate chaos, or support a fair transition to a safer future."
Referring to a summer marked by extreme heat and destructive wildfires, including one near Aberdeen, Banks argued that approving new developments would be irresponsible given they would do nothing to reduce household energy bills while worsening the climate crisis. Other campaign groups have pointed out that the remaining oil and gas reserves in UK waters are too small to meaningfully affect prices, which are determined by international markets, or to bolster energy security, while still adding to carbon emissions.
Ami McCarthy, head of politics at Greenpeace UK, was blunter still:
"Trying to squeeze the last few drops of expensive oil and gas out of the North Sea while the world is reeling from climate impacts is beyond ridiculous."
Who is backing further North Sea drilling?
Supporters of the projects include the Conservative Party, parts of the energy industry and some trade unions, who argue the fields will not meaningfully increase emissions but are essential to protecting jobs. US President Donald Trump has also spoken out in favour of continued drilling, telling reporters that Burnham "sounded terrific" on the issue during their first phone call last month. During that call, Burnham reportedly told Trump that the UK "can't ignore" the resources available in the North Sea and pledged to take "a pragmatic approach" to further drilling decisions.
That balancing act was already evident before Burnham took office. Our earlier coverage noted that Burnham faced a critical decision on North Sea drilling as he prepared to become prime minister, caught between industry pressure and environmental concerns from within his own party.
How divided is Labour on the issue?
The party remains split. Scottish MP Graeme Downie has argued that the UK should manage the decline of North Sea production in a way that protects workers and builds future industries, warning:
"If we do not proceed with Jackdaw and Rosebank, investment will leave the UK, jobs will disappear and expertise will be lost."
Others within Labour have urged caution, citing the party's 2024 manifesto pledge not to issue new North Sea drilling licences. Labour has maintained that it will honour existing licences, which gives it scope to approve production at Jackdaw and Rosebank without technically breaching that commitment. This tension was flagged before Burnham even took the top job, when trade union leaders and Green Party head Zack Polanski urged him to maintain strong climate commitments and oppose new North Sea drilling amid fears over job losses and the urgency of the climate crisis.
Polling suggests Burnham's Labour has begun clawing back some voters who defected to the Greens during Sir Keir Starmer's time as prime minister, a trend that could be reversed if the party is seen to soften its climate pledges.
What has the Green Party said?
Zack Polanski, leader of the Green Party of England and Wales, described approval of the two fields as "a dereliction of duty", warning:
"Whatever weasel words are used on drilling within new or existing licences, one of the new prime minister's first significant decisions would be to break Labour's manifesto pledge. Jackdaw's owner have themselves said that only 27 direct full time jobs would be created if given the go ahead. This has nothing to do with boosting the economy for the people of this country and far more to do with boosting obscene profits for fossil fuel companies and their shareholders. I made clear in my press conference last week, this needs to be treated for the serious crisis it is, with financial support for homes to keep cool and for fossil fuel giants to pay the costs of extreme weather adaptation."
What has the government said?
A government spokesperson defended the continued role of North Sea production, stating:
"The North Sea remains a vital national asset, supporting jobs, growth and the UK's energy security. We are clear that oil and gas will continue to play an important role in our energy system for decades to come, alongside renewables, nuclear and other low-carbon technologies. Our focus is on providing stability and supporting North Sea workers and communities as they continue to make a vital contribution to the UK's economy."
Separately, a report by City A.M. suggests civil servants have been asked to prepare groundwork for approving Jackdaw, Rosebank and related tie-back projects as part of a wider policy push, though it stresses no final decision has yet been made.
What are the technical details of the Jackdaw project?
According to the official notice, the Jackdaw development carries the OPRED reference D/4260/2021 and is located south-east of the Shearwater platform, close to the UK/Norway median line, as detailed in the government consultation document. The original environmental statement classified Jackdaw as a gas condensate field spanning UK North Sea blocks 30/02a, 30/02d and 30/03a DEEP. Records show the public notice process for the project began back in May 2021, with further-information rounds following in 2022 and 2025 before this latest 2026 consultation, according to the official Jackdaw field development file. Separately, Adura's own project page notes that the North Sea Transition Authority granted initial development consent on 1 June 2022, and that permit applications remain available for inspection at the company's Aberdeen office until 31 August 2026, per Adura's project listing.
What happens next?
The Jackdaw consultation closes to public submissions on 10 August 2026, after which OPRED will review all representations before any decision on the field can proceed, according to the official consultation notice. Submissions and questions received during the process may be published on the government's website with personal details redacted. Even if the North Sea Transition Authority approves the updated application, the Energy Secretary will still need to sign off on the final consent to production, the Telegraph reports.
Key Facts
- The Jackdaw gas field consultation closes today, while the Rosebank oil field consultation closes on Monday.
- Both projects were previously approved under the Conservative government before a court quashed the decisions last year following a Greenpeace legal challenge.
- Adura says Jackdaw could supply around 6% of the UK's gas needs, while its updated assessment puts the field's emissions at under 0.02% of the global total.
- Green Party leader Zack Polanski says Jackdaw's owner has stated the project would create only 27 direct full-time jobs.
- Public submissions on Jackdaw must be received by 10 August 2026, after which OPRED will review responses before any final decision is made.
