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Andy Burnham faces pressure over North Sea oil and gas as a decision on allowing new drilling moves closer.
As Britain braces for its fifth heatwave, environmental groups have urged the Prime Minister to refuse permission for oil and gas production in two areas of the North Sea, known as Jackdaw and Rosebank, as part of the fight against climate change.
But opposition politicians, the oil and gas industry and US President Donald Trump have called for him to grant permission, arguing this would protect jobs and cut household bills.
Mr Burnhamâs party is also split on the issue, while watering down environmental commitments could limit Labourâs ability to tempt back voters that have switched to the Greens since 2024.
Production at both Jackdaw and Rosebank was approved by the Conservatives, but a court quashed those decisions last year after a challenge from Greenpeace, leaving the Labour Government to decide whether to go ahead.
On Monday, a further consultation on Jackdaw, a gas field 150 miles east of Aberdeen will close, while a consultation on the Rosebank oil field, north-west of Shetland, closes a week later.
The end of the consultations has brought renewed focus on the Prime Ministerâs dilemma.
Lang Banks, director of WWF Scotland, said there was âa clear choice to be made by our politicians: further fuel climate chaos, or support a fair transition to a safer futureâ.
Pointing to âa summer of extreme heat and devastating wildfiresâ, including near Aberdeen, Mr Banks said it would be âirresponsible to approve new oil and gas developments that would accelerate climate change and do nothing to lower the energy bills of UK householdsâ.
Other environmental groups have argued that the small amount of oil and gas left in Britainâs North Sea holdings would make little difference to either prices, which are set internationally, or energy security, while increasing carbon emissions.
Ami McCarthy, head of politics at Greenpeace UK, said: âTrying to squeeze the last few drops of expensive oil and gas out of the North Sea while the world is reeling from climate impacts is beyond ridiculous.
âThe Government should hold fast on their no new oil and gas commitment. We need true investment in the clean energy industries of the future, which are our only dependable path to good jobs, lower bills, and long-term prosperity.â
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