Labour MPs have mobilised to pile pressure on Andy Burnham to block drilling at the Rosebank oilfield, it has emerged.
The Prime Minister is facing the first major rebellion of his premiership as the Government mulls whether to approve more fossil fuel extraction in the North Sea.
Since taking office, Mr Burnham has vowed to take a ‘pragmatic approach’ to the future of drilling in UK waters.
He has also won praise from US President Donald Trump for ‘opening up’ the North Sea, following the Government’s approval of the Jackdaw gas field last month.
But Labour ministers are still yet to decide on whether to also approve Rosebank – the largest untapped oil field in the North Sea – amid the growing threat of a huge revolt.
Some 75 Labour MPs have privately signed a letter opposing the approval of Rosebank, according to the Sunday Times.
Campaigners are said to be hoping that 100 Labour MPs – almost one in four – could end up backing the letter.
Mr Burnham is also facing the threat of resignations from his Government if he does give the go-ahead to Rosebank.
Labour MPs have mobilised to pile pressure on Andy Burnham to block drilling at the Rosebank oilfield, it has emerged
The Prime Minister is facing the first major rebellion of his premiership as the Government mulls whether to approve more fossil fuel extraction in the North Sea
One parliamentary private secretary (PPS) to a Cabinet minister is already considering quitting should the oilfield be approved.
‘I think they underestimate how strongly people feel about climate change,’ they said. ‘For a generation of us it’s as central to our politics as equality or tackling poverty.’
A decision on Rosebank, which lies west of Shetland, is still pending after the Government’s approval for Jackdaw was sharply criticised by some Labour MPs.
There is likely to be an even bigger row within Labour’s ranks if Rosebank is approved.
The oil field is predicted to produce many more tons of carbon emissions – if it is also given the go-ahead – than Jackdaw.
Former energy secretary Ed Miliband, who was appointed Foreign Secretary by Mr Burnham in July, previously claimed approval of Rosebank would amount to ‘climate vandalism’.
Miatta Fahnbulleh, who replaced Mr Miliband as Energy Secretary, last month insisted she will make the final decision over whether to approve Rosebank and not the PM following a ‘quasi-judicial’ process.
She addressed reports that suggested Mr Burnham or his Chancellor John Healey would ultimately say yes or no to a scheme that could secure thousands of jobs.
‘Ultimately only I can make that decision,’ Ms Fahnbulleh said.
It has previously been reported that the Energy Secretary is leaning towards rejecting the project but a spokesman for her Department for Energy Security and Net Zero said this was ‘speculation’.
Both the Tories and Reform UK are urging the Government to approve Rosebank to boost North Sea tax revenues and reduce Britain’s reliance on energy imports.
