Miliband approves Falklands oil drilling while North Sea projects wait
Ed Miliband has approved Falklands oil drilling while two North Sea projects remain delayed, prompting claims of inconsistency.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
Ed Miliband has given the final go-ahead for oil drilling in the Falkland Islands, according to a broadcast discussion of the decision. The plans cover drilling by one Israeli company and one British company within the islands' 200-mile exclusive economic zone. Supporters of the project say the zone is fully in line with international agreements in place since 1976.
Argentina's president, Milei, has objected. He says the companies should not be allowed to drill in what Argentina views as its continental shelf. His government has lodged an appeal with an international organisation, though the discussion suggested it is unlikely to succeed.
The Falkland Islands governor formally grants permission, but the UK foreign secretary must sign off. Miliband had the final say. The decision has caused surprise because Miliband has been reluctant to green-light two potential North Sea projects, including Jackdaw and Rosebank. An independent energy consultant said the position is inconsistent and argued that all such projects should be approved.
The same consultant called for the ban on North Sea drilling to be lifted to reverse what she described as accelerated decline. She said tax rates in the North Sea should be reduced and the regulatory environment loosened. Environmental restrictions around tiebacks, where new fields connect to existing infrastructure, should also be changed, she argued.
The discussion also covered Norway. The consultant said Norway has made large discoveries close to UK waters. Because of the drilling ban, the UK cannot check whether those reserves extend into the UK continental shelf. That makes decline a self-fulfilling prophecy, she said.
The Falkland Islands were described as much better defended than in 1982. Their economy could grow through oil, fisheries, wool and other exports, and one contributor said the islands could become one of the richest countries per capita. There was also a suggestion that Britain should revisit how taxes are calculated on licences granted in the Falklands, because there is no recourse to the Exchequer from those licences. The idea of taxing Falkland Islanders was rejected, but the point about a return for Britain's defence role was raised.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, grouped by how many channels reported each one. Select a dot to see the source excerpt.
| Claim |  |
|---|---|
| Only on one channel | |
| Argentina's president Milei opposes drilling on the area he considers the Argentine continental shelf and has appealed to an international organisation. | |
| Ed Miliband approved Falklands oil drilling while being reluctant to approve two North Sea projects. | |
| The Falkland Islands' 200-mile exclusive economic zone is consistent with international agreements dating from 1976. | |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
GB News treated the decision as an inconsistency, focusing on Ed Miliband approving Falklands drilling while holding back North Sea projects such as Jackdaw and Rosebank. The interview with an independent energy consultant was strongly pro-drilling: it called for lifting the North Sea ban, cutting taxes and loosening regulations. Argentina's objection was mentioned, but the tone was dismissive and the Falklands' economic and defence potential was stressed.
- “It's extremely inconsistent. We should approve both. We should approve all of them.”
- “What has surprised me, and it really has surprised me, is that Ed Miliband has had the final say on this and decided that drilling can go ahead”
- “Yes to the Falklands. We don't care about the Argentine president, but when it comes to Jackdaw and getting gas within 10 weeks, no.”
Broadcast Timeline
News broadcasts tracked for this story, in time order.