Scores of Labour MPs are pressuring prospective prime minister Andy Burnham to reject the Rosebank oilfield development in the North Sea, citing new research that estimates 250m tonnes of CO2 emissions over its lifetime, equivalent to 70% of the UK's annual emissions, and arguing it won't reduce fuel prices or significantly boost the economy.
Party divisions over energy have deepened, but the need to move beyond fossil fuels has never been clearerEnergy has not been a prominent subject for discussion in the run-up to Thursday’s UK elections. In England this is logical enough, since the big policy decisions are taken by ministers in Westminster, not at council meetings. But the stances adopted by the new governments in Scotland and Wales matter a great deal. They will have an influence beyond their borders, helping to shape the national climate debate in the coming years.In both nations, as in England, divisions have deepened as Conservatives have moved away from support for net zero and Reform UK has ramped up its opposition to renewables. Among Scottish parties, only the Greens are categorically against new fossil‑fuel developments in the North Sea. Under John Swinney, the Scottish National party’s earlier opposition to the Rosebank oilfield has softened in advance of the upcoming decision over whether it should go ahead. Scottish Labour, by contrast, has thrown its weight behind new nuclear power.Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our letters section, please click here. Continue reading...
