16 October 2026 | by Wendy Pickles
What are Rosebank and Jackdaw? Jackdaw is a gas field approximately 150 miles east of Aberdeen. Rosebank, 80 miles north-west of Shetland, is predominantly an oil field with a small supply of gas. Both are now operated by Adura, formed from Equinor and Shell’s UK offshore businesses.
Why are the licences being discussed?Rosebank & Jackdaw licences were approved under the Conservative government – but a Supreme Court judgement following a challenge by Greenpeace and Uplift ruled in 2025 that these decisions were unlawful based on their environmental impact. The judge ruled that a more comprehensive environmental assessment was necessary before granting the licenses, specifically considering the climate impact of burning any fossil fuels extracted from the fields.
Public consultations closed in August 2026 and a government decision is imminent. As they are not technically new licences, Andy Burnham could approve the new consent applications without breaching Labour’s commitment to oppose new exploration licences. However, he faces strong opposition from within the party. Ed Miliband, former Energy Secretary and now Foreign Secretary, previously described the Rosebank licence as “climate vandalism”
Arguments for and against The main arguments for granting these oil and gas licences are:
The main arguments against the licences are:
Will granting the licences reduce UK energy bills? Neither project is expected to reduce household prices materially. International Energy Agency Chief Fatih Birol has said, “It is up to the government, but these fields would not change much for the UK’s energy security, nor would they change the price of oil and gas.”
The UK’s exposure to fossil fuels is the primary driver of high energy bills for families and businesses. Fossil fuel price shocks have contributed to more than half of UK recessions since the 1970s, and Russia’s war in Ukraine forced the UK to pay an estimated £183 billion in additional energy costs.
By contrast, renewable energy is already shielding us from price volatility. In March 2026 alone, record wind and solar generation avoided the need for gas imports worth £1 billion.
How will Andy Burnham make the decision? Granting the Rosebank and Jackdaw licences is incompatible with the government’s commitment to reducing carbon emissions and transitioning to renewables. Andy Burnham will be weighing up how much these projects would contribute to UK energy security and employment, and whether those benefits justify their emissions. He will be acutely aware of the opinions of fellow party members and the general public.
Head to https://www.stopcambo.org.uk/ for background information & resources on how to take action