Six in ten Scots backed Jackdaw before the government approved it

On the 21st of October the UK Government approved gas production at the Jackdaw field in the North Sea. In a Survation poll of 1,003 adults in Scotland, conducted between the 9th and 14th of October on behalf of the Forum for Research on Energy, 62% said the UK Government should approve the development and 18% said it should not, while one in five (20%) did not know.

Approval

Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh agreed that the North Sea Transition Authority could grant consent for gas production at Jackdaw, east of Aberdeen, and the regulator granted it the same day. The government says gas could reach homes and businesses from as early as the end of October, that the field could raise domestic gas production by around 6% at its peak over a lifespan of up to 11 years, and that it will add an estimated £2.9 billion to the economy. Jackdaw was first approved in 2022, but in January 2025 the Court of Session quashed that consent because the emissions from burning the gas had not been assessed, and the decision had to be taken again.

Fahnbulleh told LBC the decision would not lower energy bills, and that a decision on Rosebank, north-west of Shetland, will take “a bit longer”. Industry groups welcomed the approval while environmental groups opposed it.

Support by party

Majorities of those who voted SNP, Labour, Conservative, Liberal Democrat and Reform UK at May’s Scottish Parliament election backed approval. Support was highest among Conservative (89%), Reform UK (86%) and Liberal Democrat (83%) constituency voters. Among SNP voters 58% backed approval and 25% opposed it; among Labour voters the figures were 60% and 27%.

Among Green voters, 21% backed approval and 57% opposed it, although on a smaller base of 45 respondents. Those who voted Yes in the 2014 independence referendum backed approval by 65% to 21%, and No voters by 76% to 12%.

Support by age and region

Support rises with age, from 38% of 16 to 24 year olds (28% opposed) to 79% of those aged 65 and over (16% opposed). In North East Scotland, 72% backed approval and 12% opposed it. Support was lowest in Central Scotland and Lothians West, at 51% to 26%.

Rosebank and the Scottish Government

On Rosebank, 64% say the UK Government should approve it and 16% say it should not. 63% say the Scottish Government should support both the Jackdaw and Rosebank projects going ahead, against 18% who say it should not.

55% say the Scottish Government should be more supportive of continued North Sea oil and gas production, 20% that its current position is about right and 11% that it should be less supportive. Among those who voted SNP at May’s election, 47% want the Scottish Government to be more supportive, against 30% who think its position is about right.

Asked how the UK should meet the oil and gas it will still use, 61% say it should come from domestic production, 17% favour the current balance of production and imports, and 8% say it should come from imports.

Oil and gas, offshore wind and the grid

59% support developing oil and gas in the UK North Sea and 14% oppose it; 65% support expanding offshore wind around Scotland and 11% oppose it; 60% support building new electricity transmission infrastructure, such as pylons and substations, with 9% opposed. On planning for that infrastructure, 34% would make the process faster even if communities have fewer chances to object, 27% would keep it as it is and 23% would give communities more chances to object.

When asked about Rosebank, which is still to be decided, 64% of Scots say the UK Government should approve it.

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Get the data

Survation conducted an online poll of 1,003 adults aged 16+ in Scotland on behalf of the Forum for Research on Energy. Fieldwork was conducted between 9th October- 14th October 2026. Tables are available here. 

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