Andy Burnham hints at North Sea oil U-turn as he tells Trump he won’t ignore energy reserves

ANDY Burnham has told Donald Trump he would not ignore the oil and gas in the North Sea while people are struggling with energy bills. The Prime Minister said that he had reassured the US President he would take a “pragmatic approach” to drilling. Andy Burnham says he has reassured the US President he will take a ‘pragmatic approach’ to drilling Credit: AFP He said oil and gas in the North Sea would not be overlooked while people are struggling with energy bills Credit: Getty Mr Trump has long been lobbying for Britain to ramp up North Sea exploration and has railed against wind turbines. Labour made an election commitment to ban any new drilling licences from being issued as part of Ed Miliband’s Net Zero drive. Sign up for the Politics newsletter Thank you! But it is thought Mr Burnham, who moved Mr Miliband to the Foreign Office, could be more willing to exploit the energy in the North Sea. On a visit to Cumbria on Thursday, the PM said: “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. Read more on North Sea oil “There is a resource there. When people are struggling, we can’t ignore that.” There had been confusion on Mr Burnham’s first day in office earlier this month when Mr Trump said he would be “opening up, all the way” North Sea oil reserves. But deputy Labour leader Lucy Powell said the manifesto commitment to ban new licences would stay in place. A possible compromise could be to give the go-ahead to the Rosebank and Jackdaw oil and gas fields that are awaiting decisions. Most read in The Sun The Prime Minister told US President Donald Trump he would not ignore the oil and gas in the North Sea Credit: AFP Labour made an election commitment to ban any new drilling licences from being issued as part of Ed Miliband’s Net Zero drive Credit: AP Both have already been granted licences but need approval from new Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh. Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has demanded Mr Burnham make the decisions without delay and expand drilling in the North Sea. Shadow Chancellor Sir Mel Stride said doing it “would be the first step towards ending Labour’s Net Zero madness that is driving up costs for families and businesses and holding our economy back”. Mayors to get local tax spend By Tom Scotson PM ANDY Burnham is promising to give regional mayors the power to locally spend the income tax raised in their areas. They will have the ability to splurge on public projects to benefit their own towns and cities. Mr Burnham has promised to support areas without a mayor. But there are scant details on what the new powers will be. The PM said: “I know what it’s like to be ignored by politicians in Westminster. I’m not going to make that mistake now I’m PM.” Extra powers will also be given locally in housing, transport, skills, employment support and public services in the PM’s drive to decentralise government. Comment now