New North Sea oil projects at risk after Ed Miliband caves to eco campaigners

ED Miliband put new North Sea oil and gas projects in jeopardy yesterday — by caving in to eco campaigners.

The Energy Secretary decided not to contest a legal challenge to moves to allow drilling.

Greenpeace and Uplift brought the judicial reviews to try to stop Shell’s Jackdaw development off Aberdeen and Equinor’s Rosebank project off Shetland.

It followed a Supreme Court ruling that the climate effects of new wells should have been considered — setting a precedent for all regulators.

The Energy Department said its decision would save the taxpayer money and did not mean licences for the developments had been withdrawn.

Industry experts said they were at risk.

Shadow energy minister Claire Coutinho called it “the final blow for the North Sea”, adding: “No other major economy is taking this approach to its domestic energy supply.”

She claimed it meant £9billion in tax revenue and 200,000 workers’ livelihoods were being “thrown away for less investment in clean energy and more imports with higher emissions”.

Equinor said it was assessing the implications of Mr Miliband’s announcement.

It added: “Rosebank is a vital project for the UK and is bringing benefits in terms of investment, job creation and energy security.”

Greenpeace said: “Shell and Equinor should respect the Supreme Court and the Government’s position that their permits are illegal.”