Chris Mason: Jackdaw approved, but tricky energy trade-offs remain

The UK government has approved drilling at the Jackdaw gas field in the North Sea, about 150 miles east of Aberdeen, while a decision on the Rosebank oil field, northeast of Shetland, is taking longer. Both projects had previously been approved, but their consents were overturned after environmental campaigners challenged the lack of a detailed impact assessment. Prime Minister Andy Burnham has defended a “pragmatic” approach as households face hardship, amid competing concerns over energy security, prices, tax revenue and jobs, as well as carbon emissions and environmental harm. The decisions have renewed debate over Labour’s election promises and the future of Britain’s oil and gas industry.