North Sea decisions should come ‘as soon as possible’, say leadership contenders

Both candidates in the Scottish Labour leadership race have backed new drilling in the North Sea, calling for the Rosebank and Jackdaw fields to be approved “as soon as possible”.MSPs Joe Fagan and Michael Marra are running to succeed Anas Sarwar as Scottish Labour leader after Mr Sarwar quit Holyrood to join Andy Burnham’s Government via the House of Lords.Ministers are set to make a decision on the Rosebank and Jackdaw oil and gas fields after consultations for both closed in recent weeks.Environmental groups oppose the developments but the offshore industry has stressed the economic and energy security benefits.At a Scottish Labour leadership hustings in Stirling on Sunday, Mr Fagan and Mr Marra answered questions from Labour members.Voting began in the contest on Friday.When asked about the Rosebank and Jackdaw fields, both MSPs agreed the licences should be approved.Mr Marra said the issue was “finely balanced” but he believed oil and gas can be produced in a cleaner way in the UK rather than by importing from abroad.Speaking to Press Association following the hustings, he said: “I want to see that decision as soon as possible, but I know that it’s a challenging decision for the UK Government.”Drilling would be “vital” for the north-east of Scotland as well as boosting public finances.He added: “We need to move faster to make sure we can secure proper investment in the North Sea.”Mr Fagan urged the UK Government to approve the licences, saying there is a risk of offshore supply chains becoming “destroyed” if there is no movement.He told Press Association: “In fairness to the UK Government, this isn’t just a political decision, it’s a legal decision as well.“They are bound by climate legislation. What’s important for me is that they make that decision as soon as possible.”Read MoreHe said that if he won “I would put pressure on the UK Government to make a decision quicker and to make the right decision for the Scottish and UK economy”.A Department for Energy Security and Net Zero spokesperson said: “The North Sea remains a vital national asset, supporting jobs, growth and the UK’s energy security.“We are clear that oil and gas will continue to play an important role in our energy system for decades to come, as we transition to clean power to protect jobs and tackle the climate crisis.”