𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

The row brewing in Labour over whether or not to approve drilling in the North Sea will prove who in Government is really in charge of the country. Chancellor Rachel Reeves is on a collision course with Energy Secretary Ed Miliband over the issue.

The boss of the country’s purse strings suggested she was “very happy” to back exploration at both the Rosebank oil field and the Jackdaw gas field. She said this would lead to new jobs and tax revenue – something Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has repeatedly pointed out.

But in the other corner of the Labour Party is environmentalist Mr Miliband, who has struck a more cautious tone regarding the UK’s excessive dependence on new fossil fuel extraction.

Reform UK and the Conservatives claim that new drilling licences in the North Sea would help to reduce energy bills and boost the UK’s energy security. They have been known to attack Mr Miliband’s “net zero nonsense”.

But the Energy Secretary has said more drilling will not change prices as they are set by global markets regardless of whether gas comes from the North Sea or the Middle East.

The row has become a hot political issue amid the impacts of Iran’s war.

The Labour Government has banned new licences for new oil and gas fields in the North Sea following a 2024 manifesto pledge.

But the party has never let those pledges to the nation get in the way of a U-turn.

Mrs Badenoch pressed Sir Keir to step in and approve both the Rosebank and Jackdaw projects during a recent clash at Prime Minister’s Questions.

The PM declined to do so, explaining that the licensing decision must legally be made by Mr Miliband.

Although, on a technical point this is correct, Sir Keir is ultimately in charge of the country. Or is he?