Could this be Labour's 'green argument' for approving controversial Rosebank oil field?

Former Labour deputy leader Harriet Harman has said she thinks ministers will approve drilling in the controversial Rosebank oil field - and that they will argue they will spend the proceeds investing in renewable energy.

It follows Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh announcing she had approved drilling in the Jackdaw gas field on Wednesday, claiming it will boost energy security and reduce the need to import gas from abroad.

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But she has yet to approve extraction from Rosebank, and previously told Sky's Paul Kelso a decision on it "would take a little longer".

Speaking on Sky's Electoral Dysfunction podcast, Baroness Harman said: "Well, my guess is they will approve it [Rosebank]. I think they should approve it, and I think they should strongly make the green argument for doing it of investing the proceeds into turbocharging our homegrown renewable energy."

She noted that ministers are making green arguments around the decision to approve Jackdaw: "They're saying... If it's gonna be done, and we know we're gonna have to have gas as part of our energy mix, it's better that we do it near at hand because we can impose conditions which have less carbon emissions during this extraction."

She also pointed to the announcement of an energy wealth fund, which will use tax revenues from North Sea oil and gas to help fund the green transition.

Baroness Harman said that, if ministers make the same arguments as they did for Jackdaw, "that then is a very green argument for doing Rosebank".

Both Jackdaw and Rosebank were originally given the green light by the last Conservative government. But those approvals were struck down by the court in January 2025, who said the environmental impact of burning the oil and gas extracted hadn't been considered.

Rosebank is considerably bigger than Jackdaw and is mainly composed of oil, meaning the climate impacts would be much larger than those of Jackdaw. Most of the oil would also be exported onto the global market, with opponents arguing it wouldn't do anything to increase energy security.

Labour committed to not grant any new North Sea oil and gas licences in their 2024 election manifesto. Ministers have argued that as the process was already underway for Jackdaw and Rosebank they do not count as new licences.

Our political reporter Faye Brown has reported that many Labour MPs are unhappy about Jackdaw and would be even more angered if Fahnbulleh approves Rosebank.

One unhappy MP said that while the energy secretary "might get away" with Jackdaw, "Rosebank is a different story". "Her position won't be tenable no matter what carbon offsets and other cross subsidies she proposes."

(c) Sky News 2026: Could this be Labour's 'green argument' for approving controversial Rosebank oil field?