Burnham defends Jackdaw decision as Badenoch urges PM to overturn ban on new oil and gas licences

Key Points:

• The UK government has approved production from the Jackdaw gas field in the North Sea, with first gas expected by the end of this month, aiming to supply about 6% of UK gas production and power 1.4 million homes.
• The decision includes the creation of a new £2 billion energy wealth fund to invest in renewable and low-carbon energy projects, though environmentalists criticize the move as harmful to climate goals and ineffective for energy security.
• Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch criticized the government for delays and called for repealing the ban on new oil and gas licenses, while Prime Minister Andy Burnham defended the decision as balancing climate commitments and economic needs.
• Jackdaw's development follows a 2025 court ruling requiring more detailed climate impact assessments, and while it supports the UK's gas supply, officials acknowledge it will not reduce energy bills this winter.
• Environmental groups and charities like Greenpeace and Oxfam condemned the approval as a betrayal of climate commitments, urging the government to halt new oil and gas projects, including the pending Rosebank oil field decision.