// BBC UK NEWS — CRONACA
Scottish Labour leadership contenders back North Sea drilling approval
Michael Marra and Joe Fagan are squaring off in the Scottish Labour leadership contest
The two candidates in the Scottish Labour leadership race have called for new drilling licences in the North Sea to be approved "as soon as possible".
MSPs Joe Fagan and Michael Marra both said the Rosebank oil and Jackdaw gas fields offered cleaner methods of extraction than could be relied upon abroad, and that approval was vital to support jobs.
UK Labour ministers are set to make a decision on both projects after consultations closed in recent weeks.
The offshore industry has been lobbying hard, stressing the economic and energy security benefits, but environmentalist argue that more drilling is incompatible with efforts to tackle climate change.
Consultation ending on controversial Rosebank oil field
What is happening with the Rosebank and Jackdaw oil and gas fields?
Marra and Fagan, the only two candidates to secure enough nominations to stand, are vying to replace Anas Sarwar after he announced he was joining Andy Burnham's UK government via the House of Lords.
Monica Lennon also wanted to stand, but failed to secure enough support from fellow Labour MSPs.
The candidates were asked for their views on the drilling licences by Press Association after a hustings in Stirling before voting in the contest begins on Monday.