More than 200 artists have signed an open letter calling on Andy Burnham not to grant a drilling licence for the Rosebank oil and gas field.
What the artists are asking for
The letter urges Burnham to reject the controversial project as the final decision now rests with the UK Government. The decision to grant a licence to drill off Shetland was ruled unlawful by the Court of Session, but operators Equinor and Ithaca Energy have resubmitted their application.
Public consultation closed this month. Supporters of the project argue that drilling would help the North Sea oil sector, while opponents say it would worsen climate change and do little to ease energy bills or improve energy security.
Political backdrop
In its 2024 manifesto, the Labour Party pledged “we will not issue new licenses to explore new fields because they will not take a penny off bills, cannot make us energy secure and will only accelerate the worsening climate crisis”.
In the King’s Speech in May, the government committed to an ‘Energy Independence Bill’ which would “scale-up homegrown renewable energy and protect living standards for the long-term” but since then Sir Keir Starmer has been replaced by Mr Burnham.
Questions have also been raised about ties to illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank. Ithaca Energy is 75% or more owned by Delek, an Israeli conglomerate which largely operates in the fossil fuel industry and owns one of the country’s largest chains of petrol stations and operates in the occupied territory.
Who signed the letter
The open letter has been signed by artists including Brian Eno, Massive Attack, Paris Paloma, Robert Smith, Olly Alexander, Bobby Gillespie (Primal Scream), Imogen Heap, Anoushka Shankar, Kevin Rowland, Obongjayar, Bicep, Radiohead’s Thom Yorke, Ed O’Brien and Philip Selway, Ren, Jacob Collier, David Gray, Romy, Alexis Taylor (Hot Chip), ELIZA, Anna Calvi, Rou Reynolds (Enter Shikari) and more.
Leading British musicians have joined forces with EarthPercent and Uplift to urge Mr Burnham to reject the Rosebank oil field, warning that approving the project would define his climate legacy as the UK endures another summer of extreme heat and wildfires.
The artists say Rosebank would do nothing to lower energy bills, which they say put pressure on music venues, and would not provide meaningful energy security because most of the oil is expected to be exported. They also warn that climate change is already affecting live music through extreme weather, cancellations and heat-related safety measures at concerts.
What campaigners say
Brian Eno, Co-Founder of EarthPercent, said: “Andy Burnham has previously stood with artists and campaigners calling for an end to fossil fuel expansion. In fact, he called the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation treaty a ‘lifeline’
“So he has a choice to make. He can stand with the fossil fuel industry and approve Rosebank, or he can stand with the people who will live with the consequences of that decision.
“We are already seeing what a hotter world looks like, with record heat and devastating wildfires across Britain and Europe. At this point, continuing to expand fossil fuel production isn’t pragmatism – it’s a failure to face reality.
“Let us hope he shows that same leadership now. The right decision is clear: reject Rosebank and invest in the clean, secure energy system we urgently need.”
Suzi Shingler, Campaign Manager at Stop Rosebank, said: “Despite the fact that the UK and Europe have been on fire all summer, it’s radio silence from Burnham on climate change. Worse, he is considering approving the UK’s largest untapped oil field amongst all the destruction.
“The devastating wildfires that are tearing across the UK are not because of disposable barbecues. They are caused by climate change and are only set to get worse.
“Burnham can’t ignore the elephant in the room because he’s being lobbied by big scary oil bosses and their cheerleaders. He should remember that, last year, he stood on stage with Massive Attack in support of the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty. He needs to look out of the window and make the right decisions by saying no to Rosebank.”