ED Miliband was last night facing calls to approve two oil and gas fields blocked by judges.
The Energy Secretary was under pressure after a Scottish court yesterday stopped drilling at the North Sea sites, Rosebank and Jackdaw.
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch, whose party proposed the plan, called it an example of “lawfare killing economic growth”.
The development of the two North Sea sites were proposed by the Conservatives but yesterday judged “unlawful” because eco considerations were not factored.
Energy Secretary Mr Miliband was urged to see “common sense” and sign off a new application expected to be made that considers the impact emissions.
He is the Cabinet’s most green-minded minister and was already licking his wounds after Rachel Reeves announced a third runway at Heathrow – something he is dead against.
Downing Street had last night not decided whether it would back a fresh bid, but insisted oil and gas “for decades to come”.
Ms Badenoch said: “The Labour government who were banging on about growth yesterday are too scared to fight for the oil and gas fields that deliver energy security and provide jobs for thousands of people.
“For the sake of our country, Keir Starmer needs to get serious. He talks a lot, but his actions so far are all hiking taxes and caving to the unions and the green lobby.
Sir Keir’s spokesman said: “We’ve worked at speed to consult on updated environmental guidance so we can provide certainty to industry and resume assessments as quickly as possible.
“Oil and gas will be with us for decades to come.”
GettyEd Miliband faces calls to approve two oil and gas fields blocked by judges[/caption] Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
