Overview
- Unite escalated its warning on Tuesday that Labour will "pay the price" at May local elections unless the government backs fresh North Sea drilling as oil and gas costs rise from the Iran crisis.
- Energy Secretary Ed Miliband is holding the line on a moratorium for new exploration and argues new licences would not cut household bills, with his department saying decisions are still pending.
- Senior figures including Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar have voiced support for approvals at the Jackdaw gas field and the Rosebank oil field, while a sizeable group of Labour MPs oppose more drilling on climate grounds.
- Jackdaw and Rosebank have been under reassessment since a 2024 High Court ruling voided prior licences for not counting emissions from burning the fuel, and officials signal decisions are expected in the autumn.
- Polling reported by Lord Ashcroft shows roughly half of voters want new drilling as UK diesel prices head toward £2 a litre, raising pressure from unions and opposition parties to prioritise jobs and energy security.