Scottish Labour leader urges approval of Rosebank oil field as party battle intensifies

Marra makes direct appeal to energy secretary ahead of Budget; Fahnbulleh insists decision is regulatory, not policy

By LineZotpaper AI staff

Published26 October 2026

Read Time2 min

Sources3 outlets

Scottish Labour leader Michael Marra has made a direct appeal to Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh to approve production at the Rosebank oil field, as a political battle over the development intensifies within Labour. Marra is in Westminster this week to meet Fahnbulleh and Chancellor John Healey ahead of Wednesday's Budget.

Rosebank, 80 miles north-west of Shetland, is the UK's largest untapped oil field, and environmentalists have long campaigned against drilling there. The debate has moved inside Labour since the party came to power in 2024 with a manifesto pledge not to allow any new drilling for oil and gas in the North Sea. Jackdaw and Rosebank are not applications for new drilling licences but the adjudication of existing ones.

Last week, Fahnbulleh announced that production could begin at the nearby Jackdaw gas field, saying that over its expected 11-year lifespan the project would support the UK's gas supply, protect hundreds of jobs and add £2.9bn to the economy. Environmentalists said the decision would hamper efforts to tackle climate change and make "no meaningful difference" to UK energy security. The Scottish government, which once favoured a presumption against new oil and gas drilling, issued a careful welcome to the Jackdaw announcement.

Within hours of that approval, a briefing campaign suggested Fahnbulleh was "minded" to reject Rosebank, and reports this week suggest Healey is in favour of approval. Neither minister has given a public view. Fahnbulleh has insisted the decision is "a regulatory process not a policy process," adding: "It sits heavy for such a big controversial decision because in the end only I can make it." The government says such decisions are part of a quasi-judicial process judged on environmental criteria, not politics.

Marra said he supported both developments. "I supported Jackdaw and Rosebank because I think they're really crucial for the Scottish economy, for employment, and for the public finances as well," he said. "We need to make sure that we're a country that people feel they can invest in." He is also arguing for increased levies on banks in the Budget to help with the cost of living, a request that looks set to be granted.

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Analysis

Why This Matters

The Rosebank decision will decide the future of the UK's largest untapped oil field, with implications for North Sea jobs, energy supply and the government's climate commitments.
The outcome will show how far the government is willing to move from Labour's 2024 manifesto pledge against new North Sea drilling, after the Strait of Hormuz closure worsened the cost-of-living crisis.
Energy Secretary Fahnbulleh has said the final call is hers alone, making Rosebank a defining test for her and a possible flashpoint in cabinet in Budget week.

Background

Labour entered government in 2024 pledging not to allow any new drilling for oil and gas in the North Sea. A legal challenge placed the future of the Jackdaw and Rosebank developments in the hands of the then energy secretary, Ed Miliband, and at that point senior offshore industry figures did not expect approval. The political landscape changed after the war between the US, Israel and Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz and worsened the cost-of-living crisis, and a new government under Andy Burnham took office with greater political freedom on energy. Strictly, Jackdaw and Rosebank are not applications for new licences but adjudications of existing ones, yet the change in tone within Labour has been clear.

Key Perspectives

Michael Marra (Scottish Labour leader): Says Jackdaw and Rosebank are "really crucial" for the Scottish economy, employment and public finances, and that Jackdaw's approval boosted morale and the investment climate in the north east of Scotland. Environmentalists: Say the Jackdaw decision hampers climate change efforts and makes "no meaningful difference" to UK energy security, and want Rosebank rejected. Miatta Fahnbulleh (Energy Secretary): Insists the Rosebank decision is "a regulatory process not a policy process", and that she alone bears the weight of the decision. John Healey (Chancellor): Reported to favour approving Rosebank, though he has not said so publicly.

What to Watch

Whether Fahnbulleh grants or rejects consent for Rosebank, with Marra pressing his case in meetings with her and Healey this week.
Whether the reported enthusiasm from the Chancellor's side stays private or becomes a public factor before Wednesday's Budget.
How the SNP and Scottish government respond to a final decision, after their careful welcome to Jackdaw.

Sources

Political battle intensifies within Labour over Rosebank oil field · BBC News
Political battle intensifies within Labour over Rosebank oil field · BBC News
Political battle intensifies within Labour over Rosebank oil field · BBC Scotland

Checked

12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 11 supported.

Show each claim

SupportedMarra is urging Fahnbulleh to approve Rosebank production as a political battle over the field intensifies within Labour.BBC News: “Scottish Labour leader Michael Marra is wading into the political battle which is intensifying over the Rosebank oil field. He is making a direct appeal to Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh to approve the plans to allow production to begin in the North Atlantic.”
SupportedMarra is in Westminster to meet Fahnbulleh and Healey ahead of Wednesday’s Budget.BBC News: “Marra is in Westminster meeting both Healey and Fahnbulleh in the run-up to the Budget on Wednesday.”
SupportedRosebank is the UK’s largest untapped oil field.BBC News: “Environmentalists have long campaigned against the proposals for drilling in the UK's largest untapped oil field, 80 miles north-west of Shetland.”
SupportedLabour came to power in 2024 with a manifesto pledge not to allow new North Sea oil and gas drilling.BBC News: “When Labour came to power in 2024, it was with a manifesto pledge not to allow any new drilling for oil and gas in the North Sea.”
SupportedFahnbulleh said Jackdaw could produce over an expected 11-year lifespan, supporting UK gas supply, protecting hundreds of jobs and adding £2.9bn to the economy.BBC News: “She said that over its expected 11-year lifespan, the project would support the UK's gas supply, protect hundreds of jobs and add £2.9bn to the economy.”
Not in the sourcesJackdaw is nearby Rosebank.BBC News: “Last week, Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh announced that production could begin on the Jackdaw gas field.”
SupportedEnvironmentalists said the Jackdaw decision would hamper climate efforts and make “no meaningful difference” to UK energy security.BBC News: “Environmentalists said the decision would hamper efforts to tackle climate change and make "no meaningful difference" to UK energy security.”
SupportedWithin hours of Jackdaw approval, a briefing campaign suggested Fahnbulleh was “minded” to reject Rosebank.BBC News: “Within hours of Jackdaw being granted approval, a briefing campaign began suggesting that Fahnbulleh was "minded" to reject Rosebank.”
SupportedReports suggested Healey favoured Rosebank approval, but neither minister had publicly given their view.BBC News: “Now, in the week of the Budget, reports have suggested that Chancellor John Healey is in favour of approval. Neither cabinet minister has given their view publicly, of course.”
SupportedFahnbulleh said the decision was “a regulatory process not a policy process,” adding that “It sits heavy for such a big controversial decision because in the end only I can make it.”BBC News: “Fahnbulleh has insisted that the decision is "a regulatory process not a policy process," adding: "It sits heavy for such a big controversial decision because in the end only I can make it."”
SupportedMarra said, “I supported Jackdaw and Rosebank because I think they're really crucial for the Scottish economy, for employment, and for the public finances as well,” and, “We need to make sure that we're a country that people feel they can invest in.”BBC News: “"I supported Jackdaw and Rosebank because I think they're really crucial for the Scottish economy, for employment, and for the public finances as well," he told me. "We need to make sure that we're a country that people feel they can invest in."”
SupportedMarra is arguing for increased bank levies in the Budget to help with the cost of living, and the request looks set to be granted.BBC News: “He's also arguing for increased levies on banks in the Budget, to contribute towards the cost of help on the cost of living. That second request looks set to be granted”