The decision on whether to approve the Jackdaw gasfield in the North Sea has been postponed until later this autumn, according to multiple sources within the UK government. Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh was set to announce her recommendation to approve the project, which lies off the coast of Aberdeen, in the coming days. However, the decision is now expected to be delayed until after the House of Commons goes into recess for the party conference season. This means the announcement is unlikely to come before the high-profile Holborn and St Pancras byelection on 8 October. The byelection is particularly significant because the Green Party’s candidate, Zack Polanski, is running against Labour’s Sagal Abdi-Wali in the former seat of Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Polanski has criticized the government for what he sees as an attempt to conceal its stance on Jackdaw, especially given the record-breaking summer caused by the climate crisis. He accused Labour of “dishonesty and betrayal” for allegedly planning to proceed with new drilling despite public demand for stronger climate action. The delay also allows Andy Burnham, the Labour leader, to avoid controversy over Jackdaw at the Labour party conference in Liverpool. Shadow Energy Secretary Andrew Bowie has raised concerns that the delay may prioritize the interests of the Labour party over the national interest. In a letter to the prime minister, Bowie questioned whether the decision would be delayed until after the byelection and warned that doing so could be seen as prioritizing party politics over the needs of the country. Separately, the government is also considering the future of the Rosebank oilfield project. Environmental groups have called for both projects to be abandoned, while US President Donald Trump has urged the UK to proceed with them. Labour’s manifesto committed to a ban on new drilling licenses in the North Sea, but the companies behind Jackdaw and Rosebank are seeking environmental approval for existing licenses. While granting these permits would not violate the manifesto, many Labour MPs oppose the projects entirely. The final decision rests with the energy secretary, whose recommendation will be passed to the North Sea Transition Authority for formal approval.