Andy Burnham, the leader of the UK Labour Party, has indicated a pragmatic approach toward North Sea oil and gas development, signaling that Britain “cannot ignore” the energy resources available in the region. His comments mark the strongest suggestion yet that he may support some expansion of offshore drilling, despite Labour’s formal manifesto commitment to halt the issuance of new exploration licences.
Burnham made the remarks in response to statements by former US President Donald Trump, who claimed that in their recent phone conversation, Burnham had promised to open up the North Sea for additional drilling. While Burnham did not confirm a wholesale policy shift, he acknowledged telling Trump that he intended to take a practical stance on North Sea exploration going forward. “There is a resource there,” Burnham said, “and when people are struggling, you can’t ignore that.”
Under previous Labour leadership, the party pledged not to grant new licences for North Sea oil and gas extraction, reflecting concerns about climate change and a transition to renewable energy. However, the party has faced pressure over how to balance environmental commitments with the need to address high energy costs and supply security.
Burnham is expected to maintain Labour’s manifesto position by refraining from issuing new drilling licences but appears open to approving the extraction of oil and gas from already licensed sites, notably the Rosebank and Jackdaw fields. These projects have been held up for regulatory approval. Final decisions are in the hands of Miatta Fanbulleh, the current Energy Secretary, who succeeded Ed Miliband, now Foreign Secretary. Miliband previously delayed extraction approvals, arguing that tapping such reserves would not reduce consumer energy bills.
The Conservative Party, meanwhile, has urged quick development of North Sea fields to alleviate energy shortages. Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has highlighted that the Jackdaw gas field, if operational before winter, could supply heating to approximately 1.6 million households in the UK.
Trump, who has repeatedly criticised Labour’s reluctance to expand North Sea drilling during Sir Keir Starmer’s leadership, reiterated his position earlier this week, saying Britain “would be a really rich country” if it exploited the resource more aggressively. Speaking from the Oval Office, Trump emphasized Britain’s economic potential if new drilling were authorized, despite at times misidentifying Burnham.
The debate over North Sea oil and gas production reflects broader tensions between energy security, economic concerns, and climate change commitments facing the UK government and opposition parties as they shape future energy policy.