Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has indicated that the long-delayed Rosebank oil field project in the North Sea could move forward, doubling down on his government’s commitment to maintaining oil and gas as part of the UK’s energy mix for decades to come.
Speaking to Scottish reporters at Downing Street, Starmer said that while Energy Secretary Ed Miliband will ultimately decide Rosebank’s fate, existing licences must be respected. He stressed that oil and gas would continue to play a crucial role alongside renewables in ensuring energy security. “Oil and gas will be part of the mix for many, many years to come,” he said, adding that renewables remain “a fantastic opportunity for Scotland”.
The Rosebank project, led by Norwegian energy giant Equinor in partnership with Ithaca Energy, is one of the largest untapped oil fields in the UK, located west of Shetland. An environmental review is currently under way following a 2023 court ruling that overturned the initial development approval due to inadequate assessment of emissions from the extracted oil.
The renewed political support comes amid rising tensions within Labour. Energy Secretary Miliband is reportedly opposed to the development, which some senior figures within the party have labelled “climate vandalism”. However, Chancellor Rachel Reeves and other Cabinet ministers are said to favour backing the scheme to preserve investor confidence in the North Sea sector.
Environmental campaigners, including Fossil Free London and Uplift, have condemned any move to approve Rosebank, calling it a betrayal of Labour’s climate promises. They argue that the project would emit nearly 250 million tonnes of carbon dioxide—undermining the UK’s net-zero commitments and worsening the global climate crisis.
Supporters of the development, including Equinor, say Rosebank will deliver substantial economic benefits, protect jobs across the North Sea supply chain, and strengthen the UK’s energy resilience as global instability and rising demand strain energy markets.
With a final government decision expected later this year, the Rosebank debate has become a defining test of Labour’s approach to balancing energy security with environmental responsibility.
