Prime Minister Andy Burnham has confirmed he told US President Donald Trump he would take a 'pragmatic approach' to the issue of North Sea oil and gas, according to BBC News. Trump later claimed that Burnham had pledged to 'open up the North Sea' in their first phone call. Burnham said: 'There is a resource there. When people are struggling - you can't ignore that.'
Pragmatic Approach Confirmed
In an interview, Burnham elaborated on his conversation with Trump, stating, 'I indicated in the phone call that we had a week last Monday that I would take a pragmatic approach when it comes to the North Sea, and that is my intention as we go forward from here.' This stance represents a shift from the previous Labour government under Sir Keir Starmer, whose 2024 manifesto promised not to issue new drilling licences but to honour existing ones. Ed Miliband, energy secretary under Starmer and now foreign secretary in Burnham's government, had previously described the licence granted to the Rosebank field, Britain's largest untapped oil and gas field, as 'climate vandalism'.
Trump has praised what he perceives as a change in UK policy. In a social media post published the day before Burnham became prime minister, Trump wrote: 'The People of Aberdeen, in Scotland, are dancing in the streets because the new Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, has stated that he will be opening up, all the way, the invaluable North Sea Oil!' Speaking this week, Trump said: 'He said he's going to open up North Sea oil. If he does that, you're going to be a wealthy country.' He also noted that Norway's North Sea oil has given the country 'trillions of dollars in the bank' and that 'Scotland has a better part of the North Sea.'
Political Reactions and Opposition
The prime minister's comments have drawn a sharp divide among UK political figures. The Green Party leader Zack Polanski condemned the move, saying: 'Our country is burning. Crops are failing. Thousands have been killed by extreme heat. Allowing new oil and gas drilling in the North Sea will worsen the climate breakdown.' The Conservatives and Reform UK have urged the government to approve more drilling, arguing it would reduce energy prices. Kemi Badenoch, leader of the Conservative Party, previously called it 'absurd' to leave 'vital resources untapped.'
Some Labour MPs have expressed unease. Rachael Maskell urged the government to 'follow the climate science because we have got a climate emergency.' Simon Francis, from the End Fuel Poverty Coalition, argued that drilling would not lower household bills: 'Gas is sold at the global market prices, so whatever is pumped out is sold to the highest bidder, not handed to British billpayers at a discount.'
Burnham has faced pressure from trade unions, industry figures, and some Labour MPs to back increased drilling. Meanwhile, the previous government under Sir Keir Starmer had already made concessions, allowing 'tie-backs' — production in unlicensed areas close to or connected to already licensed areas.
Focus on Rosebank and Jackdaw Fields
Currently, the debate over North Sea drilling centres on two oil and gas fields: Rosebank and Jackdaw, both located in Scotland. Regulators approved drilling at these sites in 2022 and 2023, but that approval was overturned in 2025 following a legal challenge. The legal process is ongoing, meaning the fate of these fields remains uncertain. No specific price data or inventory figures are mentioned in the source, but the political direction signals potential future supply increases from the UK continental shelf, contingent on legal and regulatory outcomes.
| Stakeholder | Position on North Sea Drilling |
|---|---|
| Andy Burnham (PM) | 'Pragmatic approach'; open to new drilling |
| Donald Trump (US President) | Strongly supportive; claims Burnham pledged to 'open up' |
| Ed Miliband (Foreign Secretary) | Previously opposed; called Rosebank licence 'climate vandalism' |
| Zack Polanski (Green Party) | Strongly opposed; cites climate emergency |
| Conservatives & Reform UK | Supportive; argue it reduces energy prices |
| Rachael Maskell (Labour MP) | Uneasy; urges following climate science |
| Simon Francis (End Fuel Poverty Coalition) | Opposed; says drilling won't lower bills |
For commodity traders and analysts, the key takeaway is the potential for increased North Sea output if Burnham follows through on his pragmatic stance and legal hurdles are cleared. However, no firm policy announcements have been made, and the ongoing legal processes for Rosebank and Jackdaw mean any production increases remain uncertain. The UK's energy policy direction will continue to be shaped by political pressures, legal decisions, and the evolving stance of the Burnham government.
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