Andy Burnham refuses to back down on Net Zero after green light for North Sea drilling

Andy Burnham refuses to back down on Net Zero after green light for North Sea drilling The Prime Minister has insisted the Government will reach its Net Zero target by 2050 Sign up to the Politics Newsletter Email address Sign up I agree to receive updates and information about my account, the GB News Community, and related products and services from GB News. By signing up you agree to the Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy and Community Rules. Thank you for signing up! See the latest from GB News here . Choose GB News on Google - add us as a preferred source Choose GB News Support GB News Champion free speech and independent journalism while unlocking exclusive benefits. Support us Andy Burnham has insisted Labour's "determination is unwavering" to achieve Net Zero by 2050, despite the approval of the Jackdaw gas field. The Government’s backing of the site paves the way for North Sea drilling, with gas expected to reach British businesses and homes as early as this month. The site, off the coast of Aberdeen, is one of two North Sea projects, alongside the Rosebank oil field, that have hung over Labour since the previous Tory Government was halted by a legal challenge. Writing in The Guardian overnight, the Prime Minister vowed his Government would not "abandon the responsibility" of Net Zero. TRENDING Stories Videos Your Say "There has been much speculation about what this announcement means for Britain’s commitment to addressing the climate crisis," he told the newspaper. "I want to be clear that our determination is unwavering." Mr Burnham said he is "personally committed to confronting" the challenges of environmental issues, adding: "Britain has just emerged from its hottest summer on record, during which we had nurses collapsing on hospital wards, bus drivers working in intolerable conditions and families losing everything to wildfires. "More extreme weather is forecast in the months ahead. The climate crisis is no distant threat. "It is here, on our doorstep, affecting people’s lives and livelihoods. Andy Burnham has insisted Labour's 'determination is unwavering' to achieve Net Zero by 2050, despite the approval of the Jackdaw gas field | REUTERS "I am personally committed to confronting it, and I will not abandon the responsibility we have to future generations." The Prime Minister also said it "makes sense to responsibly use our resources here at home," vowing energy from the field will be "heating our homes and powering our businesses this winter." Following the approval for Jackdaw, attention has now turned to Rosebank. A decision on which, Mr Burnham said, would be "done properly". "What we have done this week is taken great care over the decision about Jackdaw because it wasn’t done properly in the past, and that led to the decision being struck down," he said on Friday. LATEST POLITICS NEWS Andy Burnham slaps down Angela Rayner over 'mascara and wine' survival kit as PM defends stockpiling John Healey plots tax raid on retiring business owners in Budget Tories push for 'national resilience' vote to ban solar panels from prime agricultural land The Government's backing of Jackdaw opens the door to drilling in the North Sea and aims to supply gas to British businesses and homes as early as this month | PA "What people can be certain about is things will be done properly going forward." Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh insisted she will make the final call on the Rosebank site, which is Britain's largest untapped oil field, but said there is a "tight" framework for deciding as to avoid the courts overturning it. "Because it is so contested, process really matters, and the last government learned that because they didn’t read the process properly, and that’s why we’ve had this massive delay," she stated. "Because it got contested, it got turned over in the courts. So ultimately, only I can make that decision." Protestors have held demonstrations across the country demanding the Government reject the proposals | REUTERS The Tories have called on the Government to approve the site to reduce dependency on Russian oil. Shadow Energy Secretary Andrew Bowie said: "Approving Rosebank is common sense, both for our domestic energy security and when it comes to supporting our allies in Europe. "We can 'Fuel Britannia' at the same time as helping Europe to reduce its reliance on Russia. But that means making the most of the resources on our doorstep." Protestors have held demonstrations outside the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero demanding the Government reject the proposals. But Mr Bowie added: "Andy Burnham should face down the net zero lobby, put the national interest first and approve Rosebank immediately, as well as lifting the ban on new oil and gas licences. "Every barrel of oil we export to Europe could be one less they buy from [Vladimir] Putin." 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