Story perspectives

UK re-approves Jackdaw drilling despite 98% import reliance

By Drooid · Oct 21, 2026, 11:21 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

UK Government Re-approves Drilling

UK government re-approved drilling at the Jackdaw gasfield in the North Sea.
The licence will supply about 2 % of UK gas for ten years.
Energy secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh and Ed Miliband criticised the decision, citing continued 98 % import reliance.
Speaker Lindsay Hoyle rebuked Labour frontbench, demanding assurances the incident will not recur.
U.S. President Donald Trump greeted the decision enthusiastically, believing Jackdaw would drill for oil.

Summary

ITV Exposes Reform

ITV exposé revealed widespread racism and misogyny within the Reform party.
No Reform MP issued a public defence after the broadcast, remaining silent on Monday.
Party leaders Nigel Farage and Robert Jenrick gave no comment despite expectations.
Former candidate Matt Goodwin defended Reform on Times Radio, claiming Farage acted as a “buffer zone”.
ITV footage showed ten Reform councillors, seven extremist, 70% calling to behead King Charles for being Muslim.

History

Historical Context

The 1973 OPEC embargo quadrupled oil prices, leaving the UK—still reliant on imports—facing fuel shortages, coal-miners’ strikes and the defeat of Edward Heath’s government. That shock accelerated exploitation of the North Sea fields discovered in 1969 (production began 1975), creating domestic supply that today underlies the re-approved Jackdaw drilling project and informs the Reform Party scandal’s emphasis on energy self-sufficiency and political stability.

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UK Government Re-approves Drilling

UK government re-approved drilling at the Jackdaw gasfield in the North Sea.
The licence will supply about 2 % of UK gas for ten years.
Energy secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh and Ed Miliband criticised the decision, citing continued 98 % import reliance.
Speaker Lindsay Hoyle rebuked Labour frontbench, demanding assurances the incident will not recur.
U.S. President Donald Trump greeted the decision enthusiastically, believing Jackdaw would drill for oil.

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