Drill ‘full blast’ Trump urges Burnham after PM FINALLY approves new ‘common sense’ North sea gas field
7 comments 7 Next PRESIDENT Donald Trump tonight urged Andy Burnham to go “full blast” on North Sea drilling. It comes after the PM said he had taken the “pragmatic” decision to green-light the Jackdaw gas field , which had been sat on by the Government for months. Donald Trump has called on Andy Burnham to go ‘full blast’ on North Sea drilling Credit: AFP Gas from Jackdaw could reach British homes and businesses as early as the end of this month Credit: AFP Advertisement Red Wall Labour MPs welcomed the “common-sense choice” and demanded Mr Burnham also double down on oil extraction to shore up Britain’s energy supply.
But it sparked a row with climate campaigners and risks a left-wing backbench revolt if Mr Burnham backs more fossil fuel projects. Sign up for the Politics newsletter Thank you! Email address Please provide a valid email. Your info will be used in accordance with our Privacy Policy You'll now receive top stories, breaking news, and more, straight to your email. The US president — a long-time advocate of North Sea drilling — praised the PM for approving Jackdaw.
He said: “They should go full blast! This will make the UK very wealthy again.” Labour MP Henry Tufnell told The Sun: “It is the common-sense choice. READ MORE ON POLITICS BILL RELIEF Hated standing charges paid could be axed under new plans, says Burnham SICK BRITAIN UK welfare bill to hit £180bn as Burnham told taxpayers aren't 'cash machines' “We should use the resources we have, rather than relying on imports. “The Rosebank oil field development should now be approved without hesitation.”
Left out here: Leaves out what changes the picture
The article never says how much gas Jackdaw will produce. Its owner, Adura, puts the field at around 6 per cent of UK North Sea gas production, and Uplift says it will meet only about 2% of UK gas demand for roughly ten years. Without either figure, a reader takes Trump's claim that drilling will make the UK "very wealthy again" at face value. The same goes for MPs' talk of shoring up Britain's energy supply: a reader believes Jackdaw is a major source.
How we know
- The Independent reported“could deliver around 6 per cent of UK North Sea gas production”Government approves drilling in Jackdaw gas field in North Sea (opens in a new tab)
- The Guardian reported“Jackdaw will provide around just 2% of our gas demand for roughly 10 years”UK approves Jackdaw gasfield in North Sea (opens in a new tab)
Like Jackdaw, Rosebank has also been subject to ministerial dithering following a legal campaign by eco activists. The decision on whether to approve it rests with Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh, a close ally of her predecessor Ed Miliband . Advertisement Most read in The Sun DEATH RIDDLE Woman, 36, dies after being found unresponsive in home - as cops probe death CONTINENT CHAOS Cops & left-wing protesters clash in Spain after 'apocalyptic' France riots VLAD THREAT Putin 'sends fishing boats to spy on Britain' as tyrant targets undersea cables SKILLS LOST Navy 'lost its ability to fight beneath ice cap & is leaving seas to Russians' Tory leader Kemi Badenoch is urging ministers to repeal the ban on new drilling licences.
She said: “We have the resources, expertise and people. What we have lost is the confidence to make tough decisions.” 'Approving Jackdaw was a common sense choice' By Henry Tufnell, Labour MP BRITISH industry has powered this country for generations. As the party of working people, this Labour Government must have its back. The Government was right to approve the Jackdaw gas project. It will safeguard hundreds of well-paid, unionised jobs in Aberdeen, support 1,000 more across the supply chain, and generate billions for our economy.
It is the common-sense choice. We should use the resources we have, rather than relying on imports. The Rosebank oil field development should now be approved without hesitation. But we must go further in backing British industry. High carbon costs and industrial electricity prices are undermining our competitiveness and driving industrial decline. This is existential for communities like mine in Pembrokeshire. Since the 1970s, we have gone from four oil refineries to one.
Pembroke Refinery still supports 1,000 jobs, supplies 14% of the UK’s transport fuel, and accounts for 15% to Welsh export GDP. Yet its future is under threat. Recent geopolitical uncertainty and disruptions to global supply chains have shown that these issues extend far beyond our industrial communities. A strong domestic energy sector and industrial base are critical to Britain’s economic resilience and national security. If we are serious about reindustrialisation and energy security, protecting and strengthening existing industries must be a priority.
This means supporting North Sea oil and gas licenses, and cutting carbon taxes to ensure British industry and its workers can thrive. 7 comments 7
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