Mr Net Zero to have the final say on drilling for oil in the Falklands

See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred Source Published: 17:11 EDT, 17 September 2026 | Updated: 17:12 EDT, 17 September 2026 Ed Miliband will make the final decision over the future of Falklands oil exploration.The Net Zero champion, who moved from energy secretary to Foreign Secretary under Andy Burnham, is responsible for granting and renewing licences.But he oversaw a ban on new exploration of oil and gas fields in Scotland.The Tories called on Mr Miliband to confirm he will approve the Falklands sites after they accused him of doing 'all he can' to end North Sea drilling. The December 31 deadline covers licences for the next £2.25billion phase of the already-approved Sea Lion development as well as a new project named Darwin.Under Falklands law, licence conditions can be changed only with approval of the UK Foreign Secretary and no licence can be granted without his consent.The situation comes at a fraught time as Argentina claimed they would file legal complaints against companies exploring for oil near the Falklands, which it lays claim to. Argentina's move is part of a push by President Javier Milei to toughen sanctions against firms operating in the British territory.Conservative energy spokesman Andrew Bowie said: 'Out of all the desks in the Government where the future of Falklands oil could have landed, fate has picked the one belonging to the man who has done all he can to end North Sea production. Ed Miliband will make the final decision over the future of Falklands oil exploration'With Buenos Aires threatening sanctions and every licence outside Sea Lion running out on New Year's Eve, Labour cannot be allowed to let this slide by the wayside.'Foreign Office minister Kirsty McNeill said this month that 'the decision by the Falkland Islands government to pursue hydrocarbon production is a commercial decision for them to take alongside the commercial companies involved'.Mr Burnham's Government is due to decide whether to approve drilling in the Rosebank and Jackdaw sites in the North Sea. Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh had been expected to grantpermission for the Jackdaw site this month but this has been delayed.The Tories have speculated this is due to Labour having to fight a by-election in Sir Keir Starmer's seat against the anti-drilling Green Party.The Foreign Office said: 'The UK supports the rights of the Falklanders to develop their natural resources for their own economic benefit because this is an absolutely integral part of their self-determination.'Labour has backtracked on its pledge to create 1,000 jobs in Aberdeen in green energy with energy minister Martin McCluskey claiming Sir Keir Starmer's pledge was 'never meant to be direct employees'. Just 53 workers have got permanent jobs.