The leader of trade union GMB has called on the government to "get on with" capitalising on the North Sea's oil and gas to avoid repeating "what Thatcher did to Middlesbrough in the 1980s".

Gary Smith, general secretary of the Labour-affiliated GMB, said it is "increasingly important" that the UK seize control of its own energy, adding: "We are in a very vulnerable position."

His comments come as Energy Secretary Ed Miliband is reportedly "preparing to cry betrayal" as the government looks to relax its opposition to new oil and gas exploration projects in the North Sea.

The ongoing war in the Middle East has brought the issue of energy security into sharp focus, highlighting the importance of domestic production to negate the need for unreliable, more costly and more environmentally-damaging imports.

Last week it was reported Miliband is minded to give the go-ahead to the Jackdaw gas field project, but remains steadfast in his opposition to the Rosebank oil field.

That opposition comes despite comments from Chancellor Rachel Reeves, and First Minister John Swinney, in support of both Rosebank and Jackdaw.

As the cabinet looks to be divided over Rosebank, a source told The Times: “I think, like a lot of government decisions, we will get to a compromise that they will leave too late to get credit for, but Miliband is winding his people up into overdrive to try and stop it, and cry betrayal after it happens.”

But Smith, the head of one of the UK's most influential trade unions, warned Labour is at risk of leaving a "terrible legacy" if it continues to “dithering, debate and delay” and allow domestic energy production to “wither on the vine”.

He said, The Times reports: “The truth is we don’t need political idealism in energy, we don’t need the political populism of the right either - we need hard-nosed pragmatism.

“Given where we are in the world it is increasingly important, post-globalisation, that the UK needs to take more responsibility for its energy needs for its own economy. So the policy in the North Sea and the approach has just been utter madness.

“It would be shameful if a Labour government were to preside over in Aberdeen what Thatcher did to Middlesbrough in the 1980s … We need to get on with this. We are in a very vulnerable position.”

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