Musicians urge Burnham to reject North Sea drilling

More than 200 musicians, including Massive Attack, Brian Eno, Olly Alexander, and Paris Paloma, have signed an open letter urging Prime Minister Andy Burnham to reject plans for new oil and gas drilling in the North Sea. The artists specifically oppose the Rosebank oilfield and Jackdaw gasfield projects, arguing that their exploitation defies climate reality and will not lower energy bills or provide energy security.

The government’s consultation on these projects has closed, leaving the final decision to Labour ministers. The consultation on Rosebank, located about 80 miles north-west of the Shetland Islands, concluded on Monday, while the consultation for the Jackdaw gasfield off Aberdeen ended a week prior. Production at both sites was initially approved by the previous Conservative government but was quashed following a legal challenge by Greenpeace, pending more detailed climate assessments.

In their letter, the artists warned that most of the oil from the Rosebank field is likely to be exported, challenging claims that the project aids domestic energy security. Brian Eno, co-founder of EarthPercent, stated that Burnham had previously stood with artists and campaigners against fossil fuel expansion. Eno framed the current decision as a choice between supporting the fossil fuel industry or the public, noting that continuing to expand production is a failure to face reality.

Environmental activists highlight the severe climate impacts already being felt. The Met Office reported that the summer of 2026 is on course to be the hottest since records began, with 2026 likely to be the first year with four separate days reaching 36°C or above. Hospital emergency department attendance surged, with more than 2.4 million patients attending each month in May, June, and July, marking the three highest monthly totals ever recorded.

Suzi Shingler of the campaign group Stop Rosebank accused Burnham of “radio silence” on climate change despite recent extreme weather events. Conversely, Adura, the company behind the projects, claims they would result in £10.8bn in investment and support 3,500 jobs at the peak of construction. Estimates suggest Rosebank could produce more than 250m tonnes of CO2 over its lifetime, equivalent to 70% of the UK’s annual emissions. A Department for Energy Security and Net Zero spokesperson emphasised that oil and gas will continue to play an important role in the UK’s energy system for decades to come.