Labour likely to REJECT drilling at Rosebank oilfield after approval of Jackdaw despite Donald Trump urging to go 'full blast'

Labour is likely to reject drilling at the giant Rosebank oilfield after approving the smaller Jackdaw gasfield.

After Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh made her long-awaited decision on drilling in the North Sea, sources now say she is not likely to approve Rosebank.

Ms Fahnbulleh told the Guardian, which first reported on her likely decision, that the same rationale behind approving Jackdaw did not apply to Rosebank, which her mentor Ed Miliband once described as "climate vandalism".

She said: "One is a gasfield that caters for the domestic market, while the other is an oilfield that is mainly for export.

"It is right that we judge each application in its own right, and it is absolutely critical that the decision is consistent with our climate obligations, our carbon budgets and the end destination we need to get to with the energy transition."

Her decision may spark further tensions within Labour as John Healey told ITV he expected both "oil and gas" revenues to contribute a new energy health fund.

Andy Burnham would be expected to make the final call if there is a conflict on the decision.

One Labour source told the newspaper the Energy Secretary was being pragmatic by approving Jackdaw but rejecting Rosebank, adding that she was "putting up a fight".

Rosebank would emit around seven times the carbon of Jackdaw and Ms Fahnbulleh is said to believe it would not shore up energy security because the majority of oil would be exported.

This comes as US President Donald Trump praised the decision to approve Jackdaw, hailing it as "great news for the wealth and prosperity of the United Kingdom, and the wonderful region of Aberdeen".

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Energy Secretary branded 'completely mad' over Rosebank stance

Conservative MP Neil O'Brien has hit out at Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh after reports of planning to reject opening up the Rosebank oilfield.

Taking to social media, Mr O'Brien said in a social media post: "Completely mad.

"We are happy to import oil from Russia, but not allowed to take it out of our own North Sea."

Adura chief 'very confident' Rosebank will be approved

Adura chief executive Neil McCulloch has said he is "very confident" that Rosebank will be greenlit, despite reports of the Energy Secretary being poised to "reject" it.

He said: "We’ve seen a decision made that there is a process that can result in a decision, but it’s a matter for the Secretary of State and her team to examine the two fields separately.

"But we believe we’ve done as good a job in arguing our case with Rosebank as we did with Jackdaw. Obviously, the economic benefits of Rosebank are different.

"It’s a bigger field. It will last longer than Jackdaw, and so I’m sure she’ll take that into account when she makes her decision in terms of the jobs and economic impact for the UK. It’s about 6% addition to domestic gas flow into the UK."