Ed Miliband is set to open up the North Sea to oil drilling thanks to the lifting of a ban on extracting the vital resource.
In January, Scottish courts ruled that two crucial oil and gas fields, Rosebank and Jackdaw, were unlawful.
But Miliband is set to change the law on greenhouse gas emissions - which the court relied upon in its ruling - paving the way for the construction of the giant oil field projects and the future of the UK fossil fuels industry as a whole.
Ministers are also expected to restart the approval process for the two oil fields on Thursday, with Energy Minister Michael Shanks in Scotland to announce the results of a consultation which will set the tone for the future of the North Sea.
Ed Miliband is set to change the law on greenhouse gas emissions
PA
Rosebank and Jackdaw, which Miliband labelled "climate vandalism", had been blocked after environmental campaigners successfully challenged their oil and gas production licences.
Courts then ruled that Miliband's Tory predecessors were wrong to approve the projects without considering the emissions the oil and gas would generate from being burnt.
That ruling infuriated Shell and Equinor, both of which had already spent hundreds of millions of pounds on the projects, leading to fiery meetings between their executives and senior ministers.
"These legal rulings have caused a hiatus across the North Sea," Martin Copeland, of Serica Energy, said. "It goes far wider than Rosebank and Jackdaw."
"There are many other smaller developments that have been held up, impacting the supply chain companies and all their workers."
As well as energy bosses, both the Prime Minister and Chancellor have flown in the face of Miliband's opposition to the sites, publicly speaking out in favour of drilling for North Sea oil.
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Eco-campaigners had blocked Rosebank and Jackdaw after environmental campaigners successfully challenged their oil and gas production licences
PA
But Reform UK has called for even more drilling off Britain's coasts.
Last month, the party outlined a promise to slash taxes and regulation on fossil fuel firms if it wins power, with its deputy leader Richard Tice carrying out a series of meetings with energy bosses in a bid to win them over.
Today, Tice said: "Just like their decision to reinstate Winter Fuel Payments, launch a grooming gang inquiry, and finally move to end asylum hotels, Labour's sudden support for North Sea drilling is nothing more than a desperate publicity stunt.
"They're not acting out of conviction - they're acting out of fear. Fear of losing votes to Reform UK, as more and more voters grow disillusioned with Labour’s weak leadership and repeated abandonment of their campaign promises.
"Only Reform will truly scrap net zero, prioritise oil drilling, and invest in nuclear modular reactors.
"We are the party that will reduce energy bills, slash waste, and make work pay again."
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