Andy Burnham signals he's ready to ditch Ed Miliband's Net Zero stance as he says Britain 'can't ignore' the North Sea and reveals he told Donald Trump he'd take a 'pragmatic approach'

See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred Source Published: 11:23 EDT, 30 July 2026 | Updated: 11:28 EDT, 30 July 2026 Andy Burnham today signalled he's ready to ditch Ed Miliband's Net Zero stance as he admitted Britain 'can't ignore' North Sea oil and gas.The Prime Minister also revealed he had told US President Donald Trump that he would take a 'pragmatic approach' to fossil fuels during their first talks last week.It suggests Mr Burnham could take a different view on oil and gas drilling to his predecessor Keir Starmer, as well as Mr Miliband.When he became PM, Mr Burnham appointed Mr Miliband as Foreign Secretary as he moved him from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero.Mr Miliband is widely seen as the architect of Labour's ban on new North Sea drilling, with the party's 2024 manifesto stating it will not issue fresh licences.The PM was quizzed about his view after Mr Trump on Wednesday night said Mr Burnham - who he referred to as 'the new gentleman' - had told him he was going to 'open up North Sea oil'.'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,' Mr Burnham told reporters during a visit to Barrow in Cumbria on Thursday.'And that is my intention as we go forward from here. There is a resource there. When people are struggling, we can't ignore that. Hence, me indicating that to the President.' Andy Burnham signalled he's ready to ditch Ed Miliband's Net Zero stance as he admitted Britain 'can't ignore' North Sea oil and gas The PM was quizzed about his view after Mr Trump said Mr Burnham - who he referred to as 'the new gentleman' - had told him he was going to 'open up North Sea oil' Ed Miliband is widely seen as the architect of Labour's ban on new North Sea drilling, with the party's 2024 manifesto stating it will not issue fresh licencesMr Miliband's successor as Energy Secretary, Miatta Fahnbulleh, has said Labour's manifesto was clear there is scope to exploit existing licences and that oil and gas are 'part of the mix' – but would not be drawn on whether there are plans to go further.The Government is facing calls from the energy sector to approve the Jackdaw gas field east of Aberdeen and Rosebank oil field west of Shetland.Mr Burnham could claim not to be breaking Labour's manifesto pledge by approving the two projects, where licences were previously granted by the Tory government, while still not issuing any new licences.Consultations on Jackdaw and Rosebank are due to run until August 10 and August 17, respectively.Referring to his conversation with Mr Burnham, Mr Trump said on Wednesday: 'Well, he did say one very good thing. He said he's going to open up North Sea oil. If he does that, you're going to be a wealthy country.'He added: 'They have two problems. They have a huge immigration problem – people coming from all over the world and just camping out in your country.'He's got that problem, and he's got an energy problem. He's got windmills all over the place, and any time you see windmills, you see a failing country.'They're made in China; not used by China, but they're made in China.'Speaking in the White House, the US President continued: 'You have one of the most valuable oil finds anywhere in the world, and if the UK would use it, they'd be a wealthy country again. And I tell you what, I could not get Starmer to use it. It was incredible.'Mr Trump said: 'You have your own oil and gas. If you use the North Sea, the UK will be a really rich country. I cannot get the point across.'The new gentleman, when I spoke to him, he said he's going to open up the North Sea. Let's see if that happens.'