Industry Coalition Urges UK Government to Back North Sea Drilling

A coalition of energy producers, manufacturers, and trade unions delivered an open letter to 403 Labour MPs on July 14, 2026, urging the Government of the United Kingdom to support continued North Sea oil and gas development. The group, including Offshore Energies UK, GMB, and the Chemical Industries Association, argued that domestic production is vital for energy security, economic resilience, and the protection of high-skilled jobs, while reducing reliance on volatile overseas imports.

In response, government spokespeople stated that while existing fields will be managed for their entire lifespan, issuing new exploration licenses would not provide energy security or lower consumer bills. Despite this stance, Energy Secretary Ed Miliband is reportedly considering consenting to the Jackdaw gas project, although the Rosebank oil project remains unresolved. Incoming Prime Minister Andy Burnham is facing simultaneous pressure from industry leaders and Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, who cautioned that an International Court of Justice advisory opinion on climate change should not diminish support for drilling.

Environmental group Uplift rejected the industry's claims, describing the North Sea as a declining basin and calling for a shift in investment toward wind manufacturing. The government maintains that the North Sea will instead transition into a clean energy powerhouse, pledging to support 40,000 new jobs in Scotland by 2030.