Andy Burnham has been accused of ‘running scared’ of the Green Party after delaying approval for fresh North Sea drilling.In a move branded ‘pathetic’ by critics, it emerged yesterday the Prime Minister would postpone approving drilling the North Sea’s Jackdaw oil field until after the Holborn and St Pancras by-election.Unions have been clamouring for Labour to restart drilling for oil and gas in the North Sea, a move that would create new jobs for workers and boost Britain's ailing economy.Mr Burnham had been expected to lift a moratorium on drilling at the Trade Unions Congress conference next week, where he is due to make a keynote address on Tuesday.But it emerged yesterday he would delay greenlighting the plans until after the high-stakes by-election for Keir Starmer’s vacant seat had been fought.This comes as Green leader Zack Polanski stormed to victory in the party’s candidate selections to contest the North London constituency with 84 per cent of the vote. Andy Burnham has been accused of ‘running scared’ of the Green Party after delaying approval for fresh North Sea drilling Shadow energy secretary Andrew Bowie (right) tore into Mr Burnham for ‘placing the interests of the Labour Party before the interests of Great Britain’ and ‘running scared’ of the GreensLabour now faces the real possibility of losing a seat it has held since 1983 to the Green Party, which made record gains in London at May’s council elections.Mr Burnham was accused yesterday of ‘running scared’ by the Green Party.And shadow energy secretary Andrew Bowie tore into Mr Burnham for ‘placing the interests of the Labour Party before the interests of Great Britain’.He commented yesterday: ‘It is becoming clear that Labour are about to, yet again, delay, the decision on Jackdaw.‘Waiting until after the Holborn and St Pancras By Election. If true, Andy Burnham is guilty of a gross dereliction of duty and is putting the Labour Party's interest over the national interest. There must be no more delay, get Britain drilling.’And in a scathing letter sent to the Prime Minister on Thursday, Mr Bowie wrote: ‘It has been understood for some time now that a decision imminent.‘There is absolutely no acceptable reason to postpone a decision any further.’He added: ‘If approved now, gas could start flowing directly into the British Gas Grid by winter – reducing our reliance on expensive imports, securing jobs and sending a signal Britain is open for business.‘However, the uncertainty, the dither and the delay is killing confidence in our energy industry and is costing the Country dear.’With Tuesday the last day before Parliament rises for the conference recess, Mr Bowie asked: ‘Will your government announce a decision by then or will you leave industry with more uncertainty?’And Harriet Cross, who succeeded Mr Bowie as shadow Scotland secretary in the Conservatives’ recent reshuffle, accused Labour of being ‘pathetic’. Mr Polanski confirmed yesterday that the climate crisis is ‘very much on the ballot’ in the upcoming Holborn and St Pancras by-election, due to take place on 8 OctoberShe wrote yesterday on X: ‘Labour are so weak on our energy security and on jobs. Jackdaw can be operating THIS WINTER.‘It can be supplying gas to 1.4 million homes THIS WINTER.‘It could support hundreds of jobs. Putting a by-election above energy security is pathetic.’But Mr Polanski yesterday that the climate crisis is ‘very much on the ballot’ in the upcoming Holborn and St Pancras by-election, due to take place on 8 October.He said: ‘Climate crisis is very much on the ballot in this election.‘We know that in this constituency, people care even more about the climate crisis than the national average.’‘The Labour Government say they might go ahead with Jackdaw because of jobs, but the evidence shows it would create about 27 jobs.‘So we will be using this election also as a platform to make it very clear that fossil fuels need to stay where they belong, in the ground.’He added that Labour are 'running scared, and have started the campaign with an act of dishonesty and betrayal'. A Department of Energy Security and Net Zero spokesman refuted suggestions of a delay, saying there was no agreed timing for a decision on Jackdaw.