Jackdaw drilling hailed by Trump as he urges PM to go ‘full blast’

President Trump welcomed Labour’s decision to approve the biggest new British gasfield in almost a decade by urging Andy Burnham to go “FULL BLAST” and tear down wind turbines. Jackdaw, off Aberdeen, will begin supplying gas to British homes and businesses within weeks. The field could account for 6 per cent of North Sea gas production when fully operational, although it will create only 27 jobs and protect a further 273. Most commented 1 The Horses review — lunch with an influencer, Topjaw’s Jesse Burgess Food & Drink 68 comments 2 Bill Bailey: A heckler told me to get a haircut — I refused for 40 years Theatre & Dance 32 comments 3 Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall: ‘My kids tell me to back off when they cook’ The Sunday Times Magazine 11 comments 4 Tripsnacking?

Finally a travel trend I can get on board with Advice 23 comments 5 My father’s Facebook posts about ‘our special angel’ make me cringe Parenting 10 comments Trump said the decision was “great news for the wealth and prosperity” of the UK “and the wonderful region of Aberdeen”. New North Sea gas to flow after approval for Jackdaw drilling He wrote on Truth Social: “The U.K. has started drilling in the North Sea, one of the greatest and most prosperous areas of OIL in the World.

They should go FULL BLAST!!! This will make the U.K. very wealthy again. TAKE DOWN THE COSTLY AND RIDICULOUS WINDMILLS!” Advertisement Drilling has not actually begun at Jackdaw, nor will the project take advantage of the area’s oil reserves. Top stories 1 Tripsnacking? Finally a travel trend I can get on board with Advice 2 Belgium’s most stylish autumn weekend break — and it’s not Bruges Belgium 3 17 of the best cruise lines for solo travellers Cruises 4 This cosy hotel is perfect for an autumnal trip to the Lake District Lake District 5 How to see the northern lights: 15 top tips Adventure Top stories 1 A grand coastal bolthole or a 17th-century rectory for £1.5m?

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Miatta Fahnbulleh , the energy secretary, said cutting bills had not been a consideration in the decision to approve the field. Asked on LBC whether the project would mean cheaper bills, Fahnbulleh said: “No, and I think it’s really important that we are honest about this. That was not a consideration in the decision because it won’t mean cheaper bills.” Miatta Fahnbulleh Wiktor Szymanowicz/Shutterstock Editorial Fahnbulleh told BBC Radio Scotland: “The key consideration in coming to this decision was at a time when we are in an energy crisis triggered by the conflict in the Middle East.

Energy security is really important and this will contribute to the homegrown sources of energy that we have.” Advertisement Jackdaw was originally given consent under the Conservatives before it was overturned after a legal challenge. The Court of Session ruled last year that the original approval was unlawful because it failed to account for emissions from burning the gas produced. A fresh environmental assessment has now been completed.

Protests against the decision outside the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero on Wednesday TOLGA AKMEN/EPA Burnham defended the government’s decision as a pragmatic response to Britain’s energy needs, despite Labour’s commitment to ending new oil and gas exploration licences. The prime minister said: “At a time when people are really struggling, it’s right that we look in a responsible way at maximising the existing energy reserves we have in Britain that could help.”

Ministers remained committed to the “ambitious” target of reaching net zero by 2050, he added. Revenues from North Sea oil and gas will be invested in renewable and low-carbon energy projects as part of a £2bn energy wealth fund. Andy Burnham’s approval rating: the latest polls Advertisement Fahnbulleh, who previously led the New Economics Foundation, a think tank, insisted she had not changed her mind on her previous opposition to new North Sea drilling.

“That’s why I’m about to legislate for us to ban new licences, because ultimately, in order to get to the end destination, we are going to have to transition away from fossil fuels,” she told the BBC’s Breakfast . The Jackdaw gas production platform in the North Sea Adura/AFP/Getty Images She argued that Britain would continue to need gas during its transition to renewable energy and nuclear power and that domestic production was preferable to imports because ministers could impose stricter environmental conditions.

The approval was welcomed by trade unions. Sharon Graham, general secretary of Unite, said: “In my conversations with the prime minister and the chancellor, I have been very clear that whilst we of course support net zero, we cannot have a jobless transition, abandon our energy security or offshore our carbon responsibilities. That is why we have argued for this decision on Jackdaw. “This gives us a bit more time to create and fund a concrete plan for commensurate jobs for workers currently working in the North Sea.

Now we urgently need to use that and invest in industries like wind turbine manufacture and refining green jet fuel. We simply cannot let go of one rope until we have hold of another.” Advertisement Gary Smith, the GMB general secretary, said the government deserved “real credit” for approving the field but urged ministers to go further and approve Rosebank , the UK’s largest untapped oilfield. Fahnbulleh stressed that Rosebank, which is awaiting a separate decision, was a different proposition because its oil would largely be exported rather than used in Britain.

Neil McCulloch, chief executive of Adura, the company part-owned by Shell that is behind both projects , said Jackdaw represented £2.1bn of investment and could produce enough gas to heat the equivalent of 1.4 million homes at peak production. He called for Rosebank to be approved next. Environment newsletter The latest climate, energy and nature news and analysis, plus reasons to be hopeful. Sign up with one click You’ve successfully signed up to the Environment newsletter Explore our newsletters An error occurred.

Please use the link below. Environment newsletter Explore our newsletters Environmental campaigners criticised the government’s decision. Zack Polanski , the Green Party leader, described it as “climate vandalism”. He said: “The energy secretary has herself said it will make no difference to energy bills, the health secretary has admitted the summer heatwave added to pressure on the NHS and the industry’s own assessment is that will create only 27 jobs.

This is a victory for Shell over the people.”