5 hours Ago By Katie Harris
Sir Keir Starmer is facing a growing Labour backlash over the potential approval of a giant new oil field. Labour MPs said the move would mark a "breaking point" and was "absolutely a line in the sand". The proposed Rosebank development in the North Sea was given the green light in 2023 but ruled unlawful by a court last week.
However Chancellor Rachel Reeves is reportedly supportive of a new application for environmental consent. One MP told The Guardian: “This is absolutely a line in the sand for almost everyone in the PLP. This goes specifically against what we said we were about.
" A second added: “This would be a breaking point for a lot of us." Another said the backlash against Rosebank would be “much much bigger” than on Heathrow. Labour's election manifesto pledged not to issue new oil and gas licences but not to cancel ones that had already been granted.
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband previously branded the licence issued to Rosebank as “climate vandalism”. One report says the oilfield is estimated to create £8.1bn in investment.
The new row comes amid a row over the Government's support to expand Heathrow Airport in a bid to boost growth. Official figures have shown little or no economic growth since Labour took office in July, with a backlash to the Chancellor's tax-hiking Budget. Labour will have to face down critics from the party including London Mayor Sadiq Khan, as well as environmental campaigners, over the third runway plans.
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