UK approves Jackdaw gas field as Rosebank oil field decision delayed amid energy trade-offs

The UK government has approved drilling at the Jackdaw gas field in the North Sea, about 150 miles east of Aberdeen, while a decision on the Rosebank oil field is delayed. The approval follows discussions between Prime Minister Andy Burnham and former US President Donald Trump, who claimed Burnham had pledged to "open up the North Sea." Burnham defended the decision by stating that energy resources cannot be ignored when people are struggling. The Rosebank decision, originally granted three years ago, was previously ruled unlawful due to insufficient environmental assessment. The government faces balancing energy security, carbon emissions, and promises made in Labour's 2024 election manifesto, which pledged not to issue new licences while managing existing fields for decades.