It has been mere hours since Andy Burnham gave the go-ahead to Jackdaw, and Labour backbenchers are already throwing a tantrum. Eighteen have publicly condemned the decision so far, with many more agreeing in private. In a letter to Miatta Fahnbullah, sent last night before the announcement, Labour MPs moaned:
We must resist shortsighted calls to abandon progress towards net zero, which would accelerate the destruction of our natural world while doing nothing to bring down bills. The choice between tackling climate change and making life more affordable is a false one, often promoted by interests aligned with the oil and gas lobby. Rosebank and Jackdaw would lock us into a costly model of energy supply without delivering the economic benefits its proponents claim.
To be fair, a few more level-headed Labour MPs have welcomed the decision. Henry Tufnell, MP for Mid and South Pembrokeshire, said the government had ‘seen sense’, adding that Jackdaw would ‘protect British jobs, enhance energy security and boost tax revenue’. He went further, calling approval for Rosebank the ‘next logical step’. Jonathan Hinder, unsurprisingly, also welcomed the ‘good news’.
Even Rachel Reeves (remember her?) popped up to welcome the move too. She posted on X: ‘In an increasingly unstable world this is a move in the right direction to give us more control over vital resources.’
It has taken years, and so much time has been wasted, but at least the most obvious decision facing the country has finally been made. The question is whether Burnham will be brave enough to approve Rosebank as well. Let’s see…
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