UK cabinet ministers press for Rosebank North Sea oil approval

UK cabinet ministers are lobbying Prime Minister Andy Burnham and Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh to approve drilling at the Rosebank oil and gas field in the North Sea, Rigzone News reported on 6 November 2026. Bloomberg.com also covered the push within the cabinet to approve drilling at the field. [1][2]

Ministers privately believe that the decision is moving in their favour, according to Rigzone News. A majority of the cabinet supports the Rosebank project, and some senior advisers to Burnham also back the approval, two government officials speaking on condition of anonymity told the outlet. [1]

Fahnbulleh has served as Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero since July 2026. She is an economist and Labour and Co-operative Party politician who was elected as the Member of Parliament for Peckham in 2024. The Cabinet of the United Kingdom is the senior decision-making body of the government, chaired by the prime minister and comprising senior ministers. [3][4]

The final decision on the Rosebank development remains subject to an approval process led by Fahnbulleh, Rigzone News reported. That review process is scheduled to report back by the end of the year. [1]