North Sea D-Day looms, PM must make right call

Key decisions loom on the approval of the Jackdaw and Rosebank oil and gas fields which will set the tone of future North Sea policy. It is a huge call, and one which Mr Burnham has to get right.

As we have set out before, supporting the oil and gas industry along with tens of thousands of jobs in Scotland is not contrary to an ambition of a renewables future. It is in fact, a vital part of achieving that aim.

Ensuring we exploit the vast resources available to us rather than importing those same from overseas is a no brainer.

Keeping the expertise and infrastructure in Scotland, and the north east in particular, which will be needed in developing the energy industry of the future is a no brainer.

The industry, such a vital part of the Scottish and UK economy has been strangled for too long, left in a state of paralysis with the twin hammer blows of uncertainty and the continuing energy profits levy.

The latest further consultation on Jackdaw closes today, while the consultation on the Rosebank oil field closes a week later. A decision on both must be swift.

The future of Aberdeen is not as the oil capital of Europe, it is as the renewables capital of Europe. But recklessly destroying one industry will not help create another. Rather it will simply see the very companies we need to achieve that ambition up sticks and leave.

Scotland will miss out on a huge opportunity, energy security will be risked, and highly skilled jobs will lie on the scrapheap.

That would be an unforgivable failure. And one which future generations will fail to understand.

Government policy around the North Sea has been confused for too long, we have watched as thousands of jobs have already gone, and as the likes of BP have headed for the exit.

This is last chance saloon time. The stakes could not be higher.