19th Sep 2026 11:59
(Alliance News) - The UK Liberal Democrat party leader Ed Davey has signalled he would back the approval of the Jackdaw gas field in the North Sea, which is under review by the current Labour government.
Davey said he believed the development was likely to pass the "climate test" amid reports suggesting the UK government will give the go-ahead to new North Sea drilling, starting with Jackdaw, located 150 miles east of Aberdeen.
Jackdaw, along with the Rosebank oil field, was approved by the last Conservative government but were struck down by the courts after a challenge from campaigners, with ministers told they had not fully considered their environmental impact.
It now falls to Prime Minister Andy Burnham's government to decide on whether to give the green light after further climate assessments were put out for consultation.
Climate campaigners are urging him to block the proposed new developments in the North Sea while the oil and gas industry and opposition politicians have argued they would create thousands of jobs and cut bills.
Asked if he would back a decision to approve Jackdaw, Davey told the Press Association: "These are difficult decisions because you need to make sure you're adhering to your climate commitments.
"Jackdaw, I personally have always felt made sense because we're going to need a lot of gas in the transition.
"And when I was secretary for energy and climate change, I was very strong on the need to have some gas because we're going to need a lot of it.
"I would prefer to have gas produced in the North Sea from a place like Jackdaw if it passes the climate test, which it looks like it will, rather than importing gas that we know we're going to need from the other side of the world in LNG, which uses a lot more energy and has a higher carbon footprint.
"So, if we can consume the gas that we're going to have to do already with a lower carbon footprint, that's the key test for us.
"Can it be done in a way which is going to reduce our impact on the climate, and that's the key test for me."
After an influential group of MPs this week said the phrase "net zero" should be scrapped by the government as it has become toxic to the public, Burnham stressed his commitment to reaching the target by 2050.
But granting permission for one or both of the North Sea projects would throw that into question.
Zack Polanski, leader of the UK's Green party, has suggested the spectre of the Jackdaw approval could boost his party's chances against Labour in the upcoming Holborn and St Pancras by-election.
Labour's Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh, meanwhile, has dismissed speculation that Labour was purposely pushing back confirmation of an approval until after the October by-election as "nonsense".
She told ITV: "There is reams and reams and reams of paperwork that needs to be assessed and analysed in order to test a set of things.
"And, by the way, one of those tests is: is this compatible with our climate commitments and our climate obligations?
"And then there will be other tests, and we are doing the work. And then I will make a decision as part of that process."
source: PA
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