Burnham Delays North Sea Drilling Approval Until After Key By-Election

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has delayed approval for fresh North Sea drilling, specifically for the Jackdaw oil field, until after the Holborn and St Pancras by-election.

This decision, revealed on September 11, 2026, has drawn criticism from shadow energy secretary Andrew Bowie, who accused Burnham of placing the interests of the Labour Party before the interests of Great Britain and running scared of the Green Party. Unions have been advocating for a restart of North Sea drilling to create jobs and boost the economy.

Burnham was expected to lift a moratorium on drilling at the Trade Unions Congress conference. The by-election, triggered by Keir Starmer's departure from Parliament, is scheduled for October 8. Green leader Zack Polanski has been confirmed as the Green Party candidate for the seat, aiming to challenge Labour's Sagal Abdi-Wali. Polanski stated that a Green victory would make a huge difference and push the Labour government towards more progressive policies.

The Court of Session had previously voided permits for the Jackdaw and Rosebank oil fields due to insufficient climate impact assessments, requiring new license applications.