Burnham set to close North Sea to new oil and gas drilling

Andy Burnham is set to back a bill that will make new exploration for oil and gas in the North Sea illegal.

The Energy Independence Bill, which was introduced by Miatta Fahnbulleh, would remove the North Sea Transition Authority's ability to grant new oil and gas licences.

It seeks to permanently protect the moratorium on new oil and gas drilling projects, which was introduced by Ed Miliband when he was energy secretary, but could be overturned by future governments.

The proposed law would make it harder for the North Sea to be reopened in the future, as it would require a parliamentary majority to be repealed.

It would not affect drilling at the Jackdaw gas field, which the government approved last month, or at the Rosebank oil field, which already has an existing license.

The government said it would introduce transitional energy certificates to allow further production in already existing oil and gas fields, including through existing infrastructure.

It claims that this move could unlock around 60 million barrels of oil and support hundreds of jobs.

The energy secretary said: “Through this bill, we will build a clean energy future which people feel in their pockets, households and communities, ensuring support reaches those who need it most.”

Andy Burnham said: “This bill will make the changes needed for the long-term: protecting people when energy companies let them down, giving communities a stake in the power produced on their doorstep, and building more cheap, green power here at home.

“Together, these changes will bring bills down for good, give families greater security and put Britain back in control of its energy future.”

Andrew Bowie, the shadow energy secretary, criticised Mr Burnham’s plans, telling The Telegraph: “Labour’s so-called energy independence bill will only make Britain more dependent on oil and gas imports. Labour might as well hang a ‘closed for business’ sign over our North Sea.”

The legislation aims to fulfil Labour’s manifesto commitment to issue no new oil and gas licences to explore new fields in the North Sea.

The government is also bringing forward amendments to the bill to scrap standing charges on household gas bills, as promised in John Healey’s budget.

It comes less than two weeks after ministers approved plans to begin drilling in the Jackdaw gasfield in a move that Ms Fahnbulleh said would “support the country’s energy security with homegrown gas this winter”.

The government faced fierce criticism from climate campaigners, who said the decision was “deeply disappointing” and warned it would result in “supercharging the climate chaos hitting families here and abroad”.

Campaigners have urged the government to reject the “even more damaging” Rosebank oil field, which is still awaiting a decision from the energy secretary, who said it will take “a bit longer”.

Ami McCarthy, the head of politics for Greenpeace UK, said: “Approving Jackdaw shows the toxic grip fossil fuel lobbyists still hold over our energy policy.

“Andy Burnham promised pragmatism, but there is nothing pragmatic about rubber-stamping a project that won’t lower energy bills, won’t boost energy security and will create just 27 full-time jobs.”