Senior Labour MPs have publicly backed greater support for the North Sea, including Rosebank, Jackdaw and early implementation of a new oil and gas tax regime.
The intervention from Energy Security and Net Zero Committee chair Bill Esterson and committee member Graham Downie is one of the clearest signs yet that Labour figures are adopting a more pragmatic tone on the future of domestic oil and gas production.
It comes just days after the committee travelled to Aberdeen, meeting businesses, trade unions, charities and energy leaders at Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce before holding a formal evidence session at Robert Gordon University.
Witnesses argued that the UK must provide greater certainty for North Sea investment if it is to protect jobs, maintain critical supply chains and successfully deliver the energy transition.
Writing on social media following the visit, Mr Esterson argued his government now needed to change the way it presented its North Sea policy.
He added: "The change should be to make the pragmatic case for oil and gas, giving industry the certainty it needs to deliver the transition and supporters of climate action the certainty they need that the UK will play its full part in fighting global warming."
Mr Esterson said both employers and trade unions had delivered the same message to the committee.
"Both employers and trade unions have told the committee they want greater certainty for oil and gas production in the North Sea. They have also called for a shift in the language away from describing jobs as clean or dirty. Language matters."
In a significant endorsement of key industry priorities, he added: "Providing certainty about Rosebank and Jackdaw and early delivery of the new tax regime agreed with the Treasury, the Oil and Gas Price Mechanism, will help not just oil and gas but also maintain the economic and skill base for wind, solar and nuclear."
He concluded: "Without a change in the way the Government talks about the North Sea, the energy transition could take longer, and cost more, because our high quality domestic energy industry will have moved to other parts of the world where there is greater certainty and support."
Fellow committee member Graham Downie MP echoed the message. He said: "As a member ESNZ Committee, I agree with Bill Esterson. A changing world means pragmatism on oil & gas.
"For a low carbon future, we must support current jobs and skills in engineering and other areas, focusing on people. We should start with Jackdaw, Rosebank and OGPM."
During the Aberdeen visit, business leaders, trade unions and community organisations argued that continued domestic oil and gas production is essential to safeguard the skills, supply chains and investment needed to deliver offshore wind, carbon capture, hydrogen and other low-carbon industries.
Industry representatives also called on the Government to approve the Rosebank and Jackdaw developments and implement the proposed Oil and Gas Price Mechanism to provide long-term fiscal certainty for investors.
Russell Borthwick, Chief Executive of Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce, said: "We welcome these comments and the willingness of committee members to engage with the evidence they heard first-hand in Aberdeen. For too long, the debate around the North Sea has been driven by ideology rather than the practical realities facing workers, businesses and communities.
"The message from across our region was clear. The UK can accelerate the energy transition while also supporting domestic oil and gas production, protecting skilled jobs and strengthening energy security. Those objectives are complementary, not contradictory.
"We hope this marks the beginning of a more pragmatic approach from government. That means replacing the Energy Profits Levy with the Oil and Gas Price Mechanism, providing immediate consent for projects such as Jackdaw and Rosebank, and backing responsible new domestic production. Doing so would unlock investment, protect jobs, generate billions in additional tax revenues and provide the stable platform needed to deliver the transition successfully."
You can read the Chamber's follow-up letter here.