In short
Rubbish Talk rates the Daily Mail's claim that "North Sea has lost 25,000 jobs under Labour" a 3/10 because the 25,000 figure and the industry's tax demand are both accurately drawn from the North Sea Transition Taskforce's own report, with only a mild framing lean in attributing the losses solely to "Labour."
The Verdict
Lightly altered. The core numbers check out against the primary source, but the headline's "under Labour" framing implies the losses are a Labour-created problem when the windfall tax was introduced by the Conservatives and the report itself frames the issue as a structural transition timing gap, not solely a partisan one.
What actually happened
The North Sea Transition Taskforce, backed by the British Chambers of Commerce and the Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce, published a "One Year On" report warning that oil and gas jobs are disappearing faster than renewables roles can replace them. It calls for the government to bring forward replacement of the energy profits levy (EPL) from 2030 to 2027, and cites 25,000 jobs lost since the 2024 general election out of a workforce of 115,000 supported directly and through supply chains.
Key facts
- The taskforce report states 25,000 oil and gas jobs have been lost since the general election in 2024.
- The report acknowledges progress over the past year, but warns the pace and scale of action is not yet sufficient to manage the transition smoothly.
- Oil and gas presently supports 115,000 jobs directly and through its supply chains, with impacts concentrated in northeast Scotland, where roughly one in four workers is employed by or supports the offshore energy sector.
- The report calls for the UK Government to end the Energy Profits Levy and introduce the Oil and Gas Revenue Levy from 2027-28 rather than waiting until 2030.
- Industry analysis cited in the report suggests bringing the change forward could unlock up to £50 billion in private investment.
- The article itself notes the EPL was introduced by the Conservatives and increased under Labour, undercutting the headline's exclusive attribution to Labour.
What to watch for
Watch whether the government's Autumn Budget response addresses the 2027 acceleration request or sticks with 2030; a rejection would be the real test of whether "industry chiefs demand" translates into policy. Also worth tracking: how much of the 25,000 figure reflects tax-driven exits (like BP and Harbour Energy) versus natural basin depletion, since the taskforce frames this as a timing mismatch, not purely a tax story.
