Edward Miliband, a Labour Party figure who is widely discussed tipped for the chancellor’s role, has implied he would approve the Jackdaw gas project in the nearby basin off Aberdeen.
The sign‑off the green light is regarded as a step to guarantee the Treasury posting.
Miliband told the Telegraph that London’s major markets still see him as the least appealing candidate for the chancellorship.
The Jackdaw field, currently operated by Spirit Energy, is located near Aberdeen and is the subject of ongoing development plans that are being pursued.
Environmental analysts say the project’s output would leave no measurable mark on global emissions.
Spirit Energy asserts the gas field will not materially influence climate change.