After months of delay, Conservative Pressure has finally forced Labour to do the right thing and approve the Jackdaw field for drilling.
More than 50,000 people signed our petition calling on Labour to change course on North Sea drilling. Thank you to everyone who helped keep this issue on the agenda.
We welcome the decision, but it should not have taken this long. A lot of time, money and even jobs have been wasted.
Conservatives first approved Jackdaw back in 2022. After the pipeline was built, the licence was blocked by endless lawfare from left-wing activists. Sadly, Ed Miliband agreed with them, not with the common sense position.
Kemi first called on Labour to approve North Sea drilling in February 2025. Since then, we have repeatedly challenged the government over Jackdaw and the future of the North Sea.
The principle is simple. If Britain still needs oil and gas, importing it while refusing to produce our own makes no sense, economically or strategically.
Energy security is national security.
Jackdaw was merely one important decision, but it does not settle the bigger question. North Sea businesses need certainty if they are going to invest, hire and keep their skills in Britain.
Labour should now allow licences for all new oil and gas drilling, explain what they intend to do about Rosebank, and how they will support the future of the North Sea. Britain needs cheap, reliable energy and a serious long-term policy for producing it.
