Pressure mounts on PM to boost economic growth
Senior Labour politicians are calling on Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to give the green light to two North Sea Oil fields that have been blocked by the courts. This move comes after former Labour leader Ed Miliband withdrew government legal support for the court battle over the Rosebank and Jackdraw projects.
Chancellor and Scottish Labour back drilling
Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Scottish Labour politicians are among those urging Sir Keir Starmer to "drill baby drill" and push forward with the projects. They argue that further delays could result in the loss of thousands of jobs and hundreds of millions of pounds.
"We want to see extraction continue, but in a responsible manner"
While there are differing opinions within the UK Cabinet, the majority seem to support the growth and energy security agenda put forward by Chancellor Rachel Reeves. A senior Scottish Labour source mentioned that they are aligned with Reeves and are hopeful that the projects will eventually receive permission to proceed.
Message to workers
A Labour MP emphasized the importance of sending a message to workers that the party is on their side. They expressed concern that rushing to meet the 2030 Net Zero targets could have negative consequences for the oil and gas industry.
Legal battle ongoing
According to a Downing Street source, the fate of the Rosebank and Jackdraw projects now rests in the hands of the courts.
