Ed Miliband willing to turn back on Net Zero in order to land job as Chancellor
Ed Miliband is set to back drilling in the North Sea and turn his back on Net Zero if he is named Chancellor under incoming Prime Minister Andy Burnham.
The Energy Secretary has privately suggested he supports plans for drilling at the Jackdaw gas field but cannot openly confirm the move until a consultation closes next month.
Industry sources suggest Mr Miliband is keen to put economic growth ahead of his Net Zero ambitions in order to steady market jitters about his potential appointment.
An insider told The Telegraph: "They want to do it. Ed Miliband sees it as a way of showing willing to the City but they are likely to follow the law.
"There is a public consultation that does not end until August 10 and if they announce anything before then they would run the risk of a judicial review. So, privately, they are signalling that they want to do it."
Unions, President Donald Trump, the Conservatives and former Prime Minister Sir Tony Blair have all called on Labour to restart drilling in the North Sea, with environmental groups and the Green Party warning reopening the fields would amount to "a climate crime".
One source close to Mr Miliband told the Observer at the weekend he was not a "zealot on the eco issue".
A spokesman for the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero said: "Our priority is to deliver a fair, orderly and prosperous transition in the North Sea in line with our climate and legal obligations, which drives our clean energy future of energy security, lower bills, and good long-term jobs.
"The UK has diverse and resilient energy supply and gas will continue to play a key role as we transition to more secure, clean homegrown energy."
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Hillsborough Law to return to Commons after deal on transparency for spies
The Hillsborough Law is to clear the Commons on Tuesday after ministers agreed its duty of candour would apply to the intelligence services.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said he was "proud" to bring back the legislation, which aims to prevent cover-ups by requiring officials to be transparent during investigations and inquiries into failures by the state.
The Prime Minister will personally steer the legislation through its final Commons stages as he seeks to secure his legacy in the closing days of his premiership.
He has pushed back what is expected to be his final Cabinet meeting to Wednesday in order to speak at the third reading stage of the legislation.
The law was a key promise in Labour’s 2024 manifesto, but has been delayed by wrangling over how the "duty of candour" would apply to spies.
Labour MPs sent open letter to back North Sea oil after being told Net Zero plans 'send wrong signal'
Labour MPs have been urged to back North Sea oil in an open letter from trade union leaders and industry bosses.
As the party prepares for a new leader, expected to be Andy Burnham, its MPs were told that support of the North Sea sector was vital “for our jobs and communities, economy and security and for our climate obligations”.
“Countries that produce, build and manufacture retain greater control over their economic destiny”, the letter states.
“Those that become increasingly reliant on imports leave themselves exposed to decisions made elsewhere.”
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