Donald Trump has praised the UK Government's approval of gas drilling in the Jackdaw field, telling reporters that the decision would make Britain "a very wealthy country". The US president said he had discussed the scheme with the Prime Minister as he left the White House on Friday to travel to a campaign rally in Florida. He claimed to have pressed the UK to develop North Sea resources for two years, stating "Andy is getting it done", in reference to Prime Minister Andy Burnham, and contrasting this with the previous administration's approach.
The Jackdaw field, located around 150 miles east of Aberdeen, received approval this week and is expected to begin supplying gas to homes and businesses from the end of the month. According to the Government, the project is expected to increase domestic gas production by around 6% at its peak, safeguard hundreds of jobs and provide an estimated £2.9 billion economic boost. Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh said there is a "tight" framework for making decisions to avoid courts overturning approvals, and that she would have the final say on future projects.
A separate decision on the Rosebank oil and gas field, located west of Shetland in Scotland's north, is still pending. Mr Burnham said this decision will be "done properly" in light of almost certain legal challenges if approved. Environmental campaigners have strongly criticised the Jackdaw approval, though ministers argue that with UK households and businesses continuing to use gas, domestic production makes more economic and environmental sense than relying on imports from around the world.
Trump, a long-standing supporter of fossil fuels, also urged ministers to "go full blast" with energy development and called on them to "take down the costly and ridiculous windmills". He has previously claimed that Britain was "sitting on top of gold" and called the nation "a bankrupt country". The president lost a legal battle with the Scottish Government to stop a wind turbine development visible from his Aberdeenshire golf course.