Sir Tony Blair urges Prime Minister Andy Burnham to approve Rosebank oil field, warning delay risks the North Sea's decline

Sir Tony Blair's Institute for Global Change has released a report calling on Prime Minister Andy Burnham to greenlight the Rosebank oil field off Shetland and establish a stable fiscal framework to draw further North Sea investment, with its publication timed to coincide with Wednesday's Budget. The report adds to the pressure bearing down on Burnham, whose cabinet is said to be split on the issue, with energy secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh reportedly inclining toward rejection.

Blair's think-tank warns that without a credible investment pipeline, operators may bring forward decommissioning decisions and the sector could haemorrhage skilled workers.

The report follows last week's go-ahead for the Jackdaw gas field, arguing that ministers should build on that decision to unlock Rosebank as a confidence signal for the wider basin.

Burnham has said his final decision on Rosebank will be 'done properly', giving no firm timeline ahead of the Budget.