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Burnham Pressed to Exploit Remaining North Sea ReservesShevaun Haviland, director of the British Chambers of Commerce, told the Guardian that Andy Burnham should move quickly to develop the UK’s remaining North Sea oil and gas assets to avoid a wave of unemployment in Scotland and the north‑east.BCC Calls for Jackdaw and Rosebank DevelopmentThe decision on whether to allow extraction at the Jackdaw and Rosebank fields is expected to fall to the forthcoming Burnham administration. Haviland made the remarks ahead of a high‑profile business conference in London, where politicians from five parties, including Labour chancellor Rachel Reeves and Green leader Zack Polanski, will speak.Rising Business Costs Highlight Economic PressureThe BCC represents 19,000 firms employing 8 million people.Research cited by Haviland shows the cost of doing business has risen 70 % over the past decade, driven by tax, regulation, minimum‑wage increases and Brexit‑related trade frictions.Before the Iran crisis, 25 % of BCC members reported difficulty paying energy bills.Importing liquid gas is currently more expensive and less environmentally friendly than using domestic reserves.Potential Job Losses and Supply‑Chain Gaps Threaten the North EastHaviland warned that the transition to offshore wind is not creating enough jobs to replace those lost as the North Sea oil and gas sector winds down. Local suppliers are being sidelined in favour of overseas providers, risking a “very worrying gap” and the loss of a domestic supply chain.She likened the situation to the decline of coal mines, saying millions could be left without work if the fields remain idle.Outlook: Energy Policy and Business Growth Under a New GovernmentWith Burnham poised to become prime minister within weeks, the future of the Jackdaw and Rosebank projects will signal the new government’s stance on energy security and employment. Energy secretary Ed Miliband is reported to be skeptical about granting approval.Haviland urged Burnham to address the “cost of doing business crisis” by reviewing business rates, energy costs, and the pending EU‑UK summit issues such as the agrifood deal and carbon‑border adjustment mechanism.