𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

Donald Trump has praised the UK’s decision to approve drilling in the North Sea. The US President welcomed the decision on the Jackdaw gas field project, hailing it as “great news for the wealth and prosperity of the United Kingdom, and the wonderful region of Aberdeen”.

In a post on Truth Social, he added: “The UK has started drilling in the North Sea, one of the greatest and most prosperous areas of oil in the World. They should go full blast!!! This will make the UK very wealthy again. Take down the costly and ridiculous windmills.”

Mr Trump has been a regular critic of wind turbines, which he refers to as “windmills”.

He has also repeatedly urged European leaders to expand their use of fossil fuels and called on both Andy Burnham and his predecessor in Number 10, Sir Keir Starmer, to make the most of North Sea oil and gas.

Gas from the Jackdaw field will start flowing within weeks of the UK Government approving the project, in an effort to improve domestic energy security and provide an economic boost.

Energy Security and Net Zero Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh approved the scheme and is now under pressure to back the separate Rosebank oil and gas field as a further sign of commitment to North Sea production. The approval of Jackdaw is expected to increase domestic gas production by around 6% at its peak, safeguard hundreds of jobs and provide an estimated £2.9 billion economic boost.

The approval of Jackdaw has been sharply criticised by environmental campaigners who want to accelerate the shift away from fossil fuels.

But ministers argue that while UK households and businesses are still using gas, it makes more economic and environmental sense to increase domestic production rather than rely on imports shipped around the world.

Gas from Jackdaw, around 150 miles east of Aberdeen, will start to supply homes and businesses from the end of the month after Ms Fahnbulleh agreed that regulator the North Sea Transition Authority could approve the scheme.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham said the decision would “protect hundreds of jobs and help keep millions of homes warm this winter”.

He added: “At a time when people are really struggling, it’s right that we look in a responsible way at maximising the existing energy reserves we have in Britain that could help.”

Mr Burnham said the Government was taking a “pragmatic approach” to the North Sea but remained “committed to moving towards renewable energy” and reaching net zero emissions by 2050.

Chancellor John Healey said it was time to make the most of the UK’s domestic resources against a backdrop of international turbulence from the Iran and Ukraine wars.

Speaking at the St Fergus gas terminal near Peterhead in Aberdeenshire, he said: “Now is the time, with the conflict and the rising prices, to make the most of our own homegrown energy through production from Jackdaw.

“I’m also announcing this new energy wealth fund.

“It means the extra tax revenues that come from North Sea oil and gas can be directed into developing more clean energy projects for the future.”