THE Scottish Greens have criticised Prime Minister Andy Burnham for hinting at approving the Rosebank and Jackdaw oil and gas fields.

Mr Burnham previously said he would “take a pragmatic approach when it comes to the North Sea,” indicating a possible change in Labour’s policy on drilling.

He told LBC this week that “the country cannot stop using oil and gas any time soon… that’s just the reality of it,” adding: “Could we speed up that transition to clean energy by using what reserves we’ve got?”

The Scottish Greens warned that approving new projects could put Scotland’s long-term energy security, jobs and climate at risk. 

The party also questioned who Mr Burnham is listening to, after US President Donald Trump claimed the PM said he would “open up” North Sea oil.

Climate spokesperson Mark Ruskell MSP said: “Andy Burnham can see wildfires spreading across the country and accept that the climate is changing, yet he still won’t rule out more oil and gas drilling. 

“The short-term thinking is astonishing. Burnham’s claim that more drilling would speed up the shift to clean energy simply doesn’t add up.”

He said there are “serious questions” about whether Labour is listening to Scotland, climate experts and energy workers “or to Trump and the fossil fuel industry.”

Mr Ruskell warned that encouraging a new generation into an industry “that will be radically smaller” is the wrong strategy. 

Production at the oil and gas fields had been approved by the previous Conservative government, but those decisions were quashed after a legal challenge by Greenpeace, leaving ministers to decide on drilling. 

Public consultations on both sites closed earlier this month, with a decision expected in September.