200+ Musicians, Including Thom Yorke and Brian Eno, Urge PM to Reject New North Sea Drilling

Over 200 musicians, featuring prominent artists like Massive Attack and Brian Eno, have sent a letter to Prime Minister Andy Burnham, imploring him to reject new plans for oil and gas extraction in the North Sea.

The open letter, signed by 211 artists including Bobby Gillespie, Olly Alexander, and Paris Paloma, specifically calls for the Prime Minister to deny approval for the Rosebank oilfield. The signatories warn that the project is unlikely to lower energy bills or guarantee energy security, as a significant portion of the extracted oil is expected to be exported.

Notable artists who have lent their names to this appeal include Thom Yorke, Ed O’Brien, and Philip Selway from Radiohead; Robert Smith of The Cure; Bobby Gillespie from Primal Scream; Alexis Taylor of Hot Chip; Anoushka Shankar; Kevin Rowland; Anna Calvi; Jacob Collier; David Gray; the electronic duo Bicep; and Romy, the singer from The xx.

The government's consultation period for the Rosebank project, located approximately 80 miles northwest of the Shetland Islands, concluded on Monday. Ministers are now tasked with making a decision on its future, as well as that of the Jackdaw gasfield near Aberdeen, whose consultation closed a week earlier.

Adura, the company spearheading both projects, has stated that these ventures are projected to generate £10.8 billion in investment and create 3,500 jobs at the peak of construction, with an ongoing employment of 880 individuals throughout their operational lifespan.

Conversely, environmental advocates argue that extracting fossil fuels from the UK's largest remaining undeveloped oilfield will exacerbate the climate crisis. Estimates suggest that the Rosebank field could release over 250 million tonnes of CO2 throughout its lifespan, which is equivalent to 70% of the UK's annual emissions.

In their letter, the artists stated: "The climate crisis is no longer something we fear for future generations; it is shaping our lives today. Heatwaves are disrupting schools, workplaces, hospitals, transport networks, festivals and live events."

Brian Eno, a co-founder of the campaign group EarthPercent, highlighted that Burnham has previously supported artists and campaigners advocating for an end to fossil fuel expansion.

"So he has a choice to make," Eno remarked. "He can stand with the fossil fuel industry and approve Rosebank, or he can stand with the people who will live with the consequences of that decision."

"We are already witnessing the realities of a hotter world, with record heat and devastating wildfires across Britain and Europe. At this point, continuing to expand fossil fuel production isn't pragmatism, it's a failure to face reality."

The Met Office has indicated that this summer in the UK is on track to be the hottest on record, with 2026 likely to be the first year the country experiences four separate days with temperatures of 36°C or above.

Extreme heat has led to a significant increase in emergency department attendances over the summer, with over 2.4 million patients admitted each month in May, June, and July – the three highest monthly totals ever recorded.

Initial approval for production at Rosebank and Jackdaw was granted by the previous Conservative government. However, these decisions were overturned following legal challenges from the environmental group Greenpeace, pending more comprehensive climate assessments. These assessments were opened for public consultation last month, leaving the Labour government to decide on whether drilling should proceed.

Suzi Shingler of the campaign group Stop Rosebank commented on what she described as "radio silence" from Burnham regarding climate change, despite recent heatwaves and wildfires across the UK and Europe.

"The devastating wildfires that are tearing across the UK are not because of disposable barbecues. They are caused by climate change and are only set to get worse," she stated.

A spokesperson for the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero said: "The North Sea remains a vital national asset, supporting jobs, growth and the UK’s energy security. We are clear that oil and gas will continue to play an important role in our energy system for decades to come, alongside transitioning to clean power to protect jobs and tackle the climate crisis."