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Ed Miliband is set to open up the North Sea to oil drilling despite previously branding the idea "climate vandalism".

The government could change its rules on carbon emissions to allow two controversial new North Sea oil and gas fields to be developed following after courts earlier this year ruled they were unlawful.

The Energy Secretary will launch a consultation on changing the law to remove legal obstacles to the development of the Rosebank oil field, near Shetland, and Shell's Jackdaw gas field, near Aberdeen.

He previously labelled the Rosebank plans as "climate vandalism".

The two projects had been given the green light under the previous Tory government but were blocked by the courts after environmentalists successfully challenged their oil and gas production licences.

Reform UK's deputy Richard 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."

In the court case, campaigners had argued that the government failed to take into account the greenhouse gas emissions that would result from the oil and gas being burnt - rather than simply the emissions from production.

Now Mr 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.

Michael Shanks, the energy security minister, said on Thursday the guidance would "offer clarity on the way forward for the North Sea oil and gas industry".

He said: "'It marks a step forward in ensuring the full implications of oil and gas extraction are considered for potential projects and that we ensure a managed, prosperous, and orderly transition to the North Sea's clean energy future, in line with the science.

"We are working with industry, trade unions, local communities and environmental groups to ensure the North Sea and its workers are at the heart of Britain's clean energy future for decades to come - supporting well-paid, skilled jobs, driving growth and boosting our energy security."