Burnham promises 'imminent' Rosebank and Jackdaw decisions as Badenoch tells him to 'stop faffing about'

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has told MPs that rulings on Rosebank and Jackdaw will come "shortly", with Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh adding that a decision on Jackdaw is "imminent". The announcement follows forecasts that household energy bills will climb 16 per cent to £1,999 a year in January, partly because of Strait of Hormuz disruption caused by the war on Iran. Trade unions have accused Burnham of leaving Britain dependent on Russian gas while North Sea development remains stalled. Turning down both fields would strip £10.8 billion and 3,330 jobs a year from the UK economy, according to a report commissioned by Adura, the Shell and Equinor joint venture behind the projects.

Badenoch told Burnham at PMQs that had he approved the fields in July, 'British gas would be warming British homes this winter.'

Burnham blamed the delay on a 'government process' his administration inherited from the Conservatives after Scottish courts ruled that the original approvals for both fields were unlawful.

Equinor chief Anders Opedal warned that rejection would be a 'major setback' and put the UK's attractiveness to investors at risk.