‘We’d go absolutely nuts’: PM warned of Labour fight if he backs huge oilfield

The Rosebank project lost in court this week when a Scottish judge ruled the previous government’s decision to greenlight it was unlawful. Photograph: Murdo MacLeod/The Guardian

Senior Labour figures are warning of a serious fight if Keir Starmer tries to give the go-ahead to a giant new oilfield off Shetland later this year.

MPs and ministers have told the Guardian they are prepared to oppose the UK prime minister should he try and give final consent to the Rosebank development, which is Britain’s biggest untapped oilfield.