Public sector an ‘afterthought’ to North Sea oil jobs, says Unison leader

30 October 2026 at 16:04

Andrea Egan calls for same political focus on teachers, care sector and NHS and says Jackdaw decision ‘a serious misstep’

UK politics live – latest updates

The leader of the UK’s biggest trade union has called for the same political focus to be given to NHS, education and care sector workers as there has been on those employed in North Sea oil and gas.

Andrea Egan, the general secretary of Unison, said too often public sector workers were treated as an “afterthought” by the government compared with the “massive political focus” on protecting jobs in the North Sea.

Ukrainians Are Fighting Russians Inside Underground Gas Pipes. I Went in One.

NYT > Top Stories

By: Maria Varenikova and Finbarr O’Reilly

30 October 2026 at 12:51

I experienced war’s subterranean future as drones dominate the skies. I didn’t like it.

BP profits hit ‘obscene’ 18-year high as Iran war drives up oil refining margins

World news | The Guardian

By: Jillian Ambrose · Damien Gayle and Lauren Almeida

30 October 2026 at 19:49

Oil giant comes under fire from climate campaigners, as its earnings reach $8.46bn while ‘innocent civilians suffer’

BP’s quarterly profits have been labelled “obscene” after they hit an 18-year high of $8.46bn (£6.3bn), as the war in the Middle East drove up oil and gas prices.

The energy company hailed a “banner quarter” on Friday, with its underlying replacement ⁠cost profit – a key measure of its income – almost quadrupling in the three months to the end of September, from $2.2bn in the same period a year ago. The jump meant BP’s quarterly profits hit their highest level since the $8.9bn recorded in 2008.

BP profits hit 18-year high as Iran war drives up oil refining margins

The Guardian

By: Jillian Ambrose and Lauren Almeida

30 October 2026 at 14:45

Oil giant hails ‘banner quarter’ as earnings reach $8.46bn, prompting anger from climate campaigners

BP’s profits have hit their highest level in almost two decades as the war in the Middle East drove up oil and gas prices and led to “significantly higher” trading.

The energy company hailed a “banner quarter” on Friday, with its underlying replacement ⁠cost profit – a key measure of its income – almost quadrupling to $8.46bn (£6.3bn), from $2.2bn a year ago.

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