Peston

The broadcast led on the government's authorisation of the Jackdaw gas field. It reported that production would begin within weeks; that Jackdaw would add about 6% at best to domestic supply while the UK imports about 70% of its gas; that it would not cut household bills; and that its lifetime emissions could be close to Scotland's total in 2024. Labour MPs were said to have called it a climate betrayal, and attention turned to Rosebank, which could last 25 years and emit as much CO2 as England did in one year. Government sources said Andy Burnham would watch the reaction to Jackdaw before deciding on Rosebank. Clive Lewis opposed Rosebank on climate and price grounds, while Gillian Keegan backed both fields for energy security, jobs and revenue. Pippa reported Cabinet divisions, including that the energy secretary was inclined not to approve Rosebank. In an interview, Chancellor John Healey called Jackdaw a small but valuable contribution, set out an energy wealth fund using additional North Sea oil and gas revenues for clean energy, said Rosebank was for the energy secretary's legal process, defended budget fiscal discipline and said tax decisions would come next week.

The programme then turned to energy bills and standing charges. It noted the Prime Minister had said at PMQs that standing charges were unfair and that scrapping them would be examined. Martin Lewis said he had long campaigned against them, that a poll found over 90% support for shifting costs from standing charges to unit rates, and that standing charges total £310 this year, of which gas is £110. He said Ofgem was already looking at electricity standing charges but gas was easier to start with, that he and Citizens Advice were not in sync on the issue, and that a possible package could combine a gas standing-charge change with a doubled warm home discount. He expected any cut to arrive in April or July and said the worst losers might lose £20-£30 a year. He also described his Small Ideas initiative, which had received 36,000 submissions in 10 days and aimed to turn practical, inexpensive ideas into policy via a cross-party panel; examples included testing blood groups at a first adult blood test, local casting for TV and film, and delivery workers taking items inside and removing old ones.

Later, the discussion moved to immigration and care workers. Clive Lewis argued that people brought in on contracts should have those contracts honoured and criticised retrospective changes, saying the issue caused angst across the party. Gillian Keegan agreed it was difficult to change rules retrospectively but said Shabana was trying to create deterrence for future arrivals and cited pressure on the asylum system; Lewis disputed language about illegal asylum seekers. The programme closed by noting that Rosebank, immigration and welfare were becoming significant tests for Andy Burnham.