The UK government gave its approval for drilling to begin in the Jackdaw gas field in the North Sea on Wednesday following years of legal and political problems that had blocked the controversial fossil fuel venture.

The Labour government justified the move saying it would strengthen the UK's energy security amid rising energy costs due to the US-Israeli war against Iran.

The gas field had previously been approved by the previous Conservative government, but wes held up by a Scottish court that said the approval had failed to consider carbon emissions.

The field lies about 150 miles (240 kilometres) east of Aberdeen in Scotland.

What did the UK government say about the Jackdaw approval?

Labour Prime Minister Andy Burnham , who has been under pressure from US President Donald Trump to increase drilling in the North Sea, said the new gas field would "protect hundreds of jobs and help keep millions of homes warm this winter."

"At a time when people are really struggling, it's right that we look in a…