Backbench pressure has intensified around Prime Minister Andy Burnham and Chancellor John Healey over indications that Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh is minded to block environmental consent for Rosebank. While parliamentary aides stress that no final ruling has occurred and Fahnbulleh holds sole authority, critics accuse the Treasury of using aggressive tactics by counting anticipated revenues into official forecasts. Environmental group Uplift further cautioned that these expected windfalls could be largely offset by generous development tax breaks.
Key points
Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh faces competing pressures from cabinet colleagues and…: Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh faces competing pressures from cabinet colleagues and backbenchers over approving the North Sea oilfield.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has cited the Jackdaw gasfield approval as a precedent for ut…: Prime Minister Andy Burnham has cited the Jackdaw gasfield approval as a precedent for utilizing domestic reserves during the energy transition.
Discontented MPs contend that approving the Rosebank site would fundamentally breach the…: Discontented MPs contend that approving the Rosebank site would fundamentally breach the governing party's manifesto commitments on climate change.
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Furious Labour MPs have been lobbying the prime minister and chancellor not to overrule the energy secretary should she decide to block the Rosebank oilfield.
MPs say they are alarmed at the cabinet splits that have emerged over the issue after sources told the Guardian that Miatta Fahnbulleh was minded to refuse environmental permission for the field.
Sources close to the chancellor, John Healey, have since made it clear he is in favour of the scheme, while some in government believe the prime minister, Andy Burnham, also wants it to go ahead.
Backbenchers worried about the environmental impact of the project are now urging their whips and Downing Street not to allow other ministers to intervene in Fahnbulleh’s decision.
Catherine Fookes, a Labour member of the energy select committee, said: “Approving Rosebank will blow a hole in our green credentials. A group of us is making it clear to leadership that this should be Miatta’s decision and I hope they listen.
“Labour MPs are really, really concerned about it – it would go against the thrust of our manifesto.”
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