US President Donald Trump has backed UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s decision to approve drilling at the Jackdaw gas field in the North Sea.
According to the US President, the approval is “great news for the wealth and prosperity of the United Kingdom.”
“The UK 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!”
Donald Trump
Burnham Faces Backlash Over Jackdaw Gas Field Approval
Meanwhile, UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham is facing mounting political pressure over his government’s approval of production at the controversial Jackdaw gas field in the North Sea.
The decision has reopened divisions over Britain’s energy strategy, exposing competing views on domestic gas production, energy security and the pace of the transition towards cleaner energy.
While the government argues that the development will strengthen domestic gas supplies, protect jobs and support investment in renewable energy, critics contend that allowing further fossil fuel extraction risks undermining Labour’s environmental commitments.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has criticised Labour’s handling of the Jackdaw project, arguing that the government’s delay in reaching a decision has cost Britain time, money and employment opportunities.
“The Conservatives first approved Jackdaw in 2022. Rather than fighting the leftie activists that tried to fight it, Labour appointed one of them as energy secretary.
“So many jobs lost, so much time and money wasted. Britain cannot be a serious player on the world stage if the government dithers over approving a single license.”
Kemi Badenoch
Jackdaw was among the North Sea projects initially approved in 2022 but was subsequently affected by legal proceedings concerning the environmental impact assessments. The legal challenge followed a Supreme Court ruling in 2024 requiring developers to account for emissions resulting from the eventual combustion of extracted fossil fuels.
The revised assessment process delayed the projects while the authorities considered the additional environmental information required under the ruling.
Burnham defended the delay by arguing that the previous approval process had not adequately addressed the legal requirements.
The Prime Minister maintained that the latest approval represented a pragmatic decision intended to balance the country’s immediate energy needs with its longer-term transition towards cleaner sources.
The government has argued that Jackdaw can contribute to domestic gas production while supporting employment and generating economic benefits.
Official estimates indicate that the field could increase domestic gas production by around 6% at peak output and supply British homes and businesses over an operating lifespan of up to 11 years.
Climate Concerns Expose Political Divisions
The Jackdaw approval has also drawn criticism from environmental campaigners and politicians who argue that continued fossil fuel development conflicts with the urgency of addressing climate change.
Green MP Ellie Chowns challenged Burnham over the decision, referring to Labour’s 2024 manifesto, which described the climate crisis as the greatest global challenge facing the world.
She also cited warnings from the United Nations about breaches of safe climate limits and the risks associated with heatwaves, wildfires and catastrophic flooding.
“So, can the prime minister explain why he’s pouring more fuel on the fire of climate breakdown? Does he disagree with the overwhelming scientific consensus that fossil fuels must stay in the ground, or what the oil and gas lobbies would be too difficult to ignore?”
Ellie Chowns
Andy Burnham defended the project by arguing that the resources generated through the decision could support the transition towards renewable energy.
“Firstly, build a bridge to a renewable future because the resources that come in now from this decision will allow us to invest in renewables, bring forward clean energy and in this Parliament, substantially delink gas and electricity prices so that we can bring bills down.”
Andy Burnham
He added: “It will also allow us, Mr Speaker, to do more to help people with bills.”
The Prime Minister also announced that he had asked the Chancellor and Energy Secretary to examine whether standing charges could be removed from gas bills and report back to Parliament at the earliest opportunity.
Standing charges are fixed daily fees that households pay regardless of how much gas they consume. Ofgem estimates that the average daily gas standing charge for direct-debit customers is 29.68p.
Rosebank Oil Field Approval Hangs in the Balance
Moreover, attention is now shifting towards the proposed Rosebank oil field, whose approval remains a separate decision and is expected to attract further political and environmental scrutiny.
The project has become a focal point for campaigners who oppose additional North Sea oil and gas development, with pressure on the government to reject it following the Jackdaw decision.
Andy Burnham indicated that the government would continue assessing similar developments against its climate obligations rather than automatically applying the same outcome to every project.
He stated that the energy secretary had “looked at the decision in relation to our climate obligations” and “will be doing the same with similar decisions going forward.”
READ ALSO: Poll Shows Ato Forson Leads in Every Ethnic Group
