Speaker vents at Labour minister for running off to Aberdeen to unveil Jackdaw drilling on TV - leaving her deputy to face angry MPs

Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh was criticised today for legging it to Aberdeen to unveil the Jackdaw gas field decision on live TV, leaving her deputy to face difficult questions from MPs.

Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle berated the Government for announcing the decision to allow new North Sea drilling to the media before telling MPs.

He also slated Ms Fahnbulleh for failing to turn up and make a statement to the House of Commons on the issue, leaving it to Energy minister Michael Shanks – a Scottish MP.

The Jackdaw project was approved by the previous Conservative government in 2022 but was delayed after a legal challenge by Greenpeace, leaving Labour ministers to decide whether drilling should go ahead. 

The PM defended the decision in the Commons this lunchtime despite a backlash from the Labour Left, Greens and environmental groups. 

But afterwards Sir Lindsay attacked the way the decision was announced on TV before MPs were told. 

'I'm sorry that Aberdeen is more important than the MPs they've elected,' he told MPs.

Sir Lindsay had earlier said: 'It is simply not good enough that it was trailed by the press last night and announced all over the media this morning by the Secretary of State before it could be properly scrutinised in this House.'

He added: 'I'm sure there will be a leak inquiry, or is it that this department is deliberately briefing out to the media?'

Mr Shanks, who was present in the chamber ahead of his statement on Jackdaw, said he would take the comments back to his department.

Kemi Badenoch demanded Mr Burnham go further in opening up North Sea drilling today as they clashed at PMQs.

The Tory leader insisted that now he had accepted that the move bolsters 'energy security' he should allow more gas and oil licences. 

The message was echoed by Donald Trump, who took to Truth Social to praise 'great news' and said the UK should go 'full blast'. 

'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,' the President said.    

Downing Street insists a 2024 manifesto pledge against new developments in the North Sea does not apply, as the site was already earmarked.

It is expected to increase domestic gas production by around 6 per cent at its peak, safeguard hundreds of jobs and provide an estimated £2.9billion economic boost.

Tax revenues from North Sea oil and gas will also be funnelled into a new energy wealth fund, backed with an initial £2billion, which will be used to invest in renewable and low carbon projects.

Energy Secretary Ms Fahnbulleh accepted this morning that the development would contribute towards climate change, and said it would not bring down gas prices.

But she stressed it is 'much better' to use domestically produced gas than import it.

The Cabinet minister also appeared to hint that a second project at Rosebank might not be greenlit, suggesting that oil was less relevant to domestic energy issues.