Labour's Net Zero chaos as Burnham sends his Attorney General to court to fight for oil drilling rights off Falklands... as new Bill bans new exploration off UK coast

Andy Burnham has ordered his top legal adviser to defend plans by the Falklands for oil and gas development... at the same time as he is banning drilling in the North Sea.The Prime Minister has sent Ellie Reeves, his Attorney General, to Hamburg today to represent the UK at the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea.She is in the German city with a six-strong team of top lawyers to fight Argentina's case against oil and gas development around the Falklands.Argentinian President Javier Milei has moved to enforce a crackdown on fossil fuel exploration around the Falklands after reiterating his country's claim on the islands.The Government is contesting Argentina's demand for 'interim measures' on oil and gas development around the South Atlantic archipelago.It is feared such measures could include the suspension of any drilling, while the Government has accused Argentina of using the tribunal to renew its sovereignty claim.But, while saying Mr Burnham is 'right' to defend plans for drilling around the Falklands, the Tories questioned Labour's chaotic position on fossil fuels.At the same time as Ms Reeves is fighting for oil and gas exploration in the Falklands, the Government is pushing ahead with new laws to ban new drilling off the UK coast. Andy Burnham has ordered his top legal adviser to defend plans by the Falklands for oil and gas development... at the same time as he is banning drilling in the North Sea The Prime Minister has sent Ellie Reeves, his Attorney General, to Hamburg today to represent the UK at the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea. At the same time as Ms Reeves is fighting for oil and gas exploration in the Falklands, the Government is pushing ahead with new laws to ban new drilling off the UK coastThe Energy Independence Bill - introduced to the House of Commons by the Government last week - aims to put into law Labour's manifesto pledge not to issue any new oil and gas licences in the North Sea.Andrew Bowie, the Tory shadow energy secretary, said: 'Today the Attorney General of the United Kingdom will appear at the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea to defend the right to exploit oil in British waters off the Falkland Islands.'This is the right thing to do.'But today we will have our first meetings to go line-by-line through Labour's new Energy Dependence Bill which bans all oil and gas exploration in British waters off…Britain.'A decision over the Hamburg tribunal hearing is not expected for several weeks.Argentina has called for the international court to block oil exploration and drilling near the Falkland Islands and claimed the UK has acted illegally by giving the go-ahead for the scheme. Lawyers for the Argentine government asked for judges to order a halt to the Sea Lion project, arguing that drilling should not take place until the issue of sovereignty has been resolved.The Sea Lion oilfield, about 130 miles from the Falkland Islands, contains an estimated 1.7billion barrels of oil.At the hearing in Hamburg, Argentina's lawyer Mario Oyarzabal said: 'What is at stake cannot be restored.'Hydrocarbons are non-renewable resources and their extraction is final. Drilling permanently alters the seabed and subsoil.'Wells may be plugged, but they cannot be undone. Once extracted, oil cannot be put back.'No compensation could restore the status quo ante, nor can the information obtained ever be withdrawn.'He added: 'In the event of a blowout or spill, it is Argentina that would bear its consequences and be called upon to respond, not a state that is 12,700 kilometres away.'The Sea Lion development is a joint venture in the South Atlantic Ocean between British and Israeli companies. Ms Reeves, the sister of former Chancellor Rachel Reeves, was late to arrive for the Hamburg hearing, which is expected to last two days.She told The Times prior to the hearing that Argentina is attempting to use the tribunal to make a claim on the sovereignty of the Falklands.'The main thing is that we respect international laws, we respect the tribunal but we don't think they have jurisdiction to hear a claim around sovereignty,' she said.'We will do everything we can to put forward our strongest case possible.'In effect, what Argentina are trying to do is use this tribunal to make determinations they are not competent to make.'This is not a question for the tribunal at all. We are absolutely clear that this is a British sovereign territory.'Argentina has recently ramped up sanctions against energy companies and their executives behind the Sea Lion development.The renewed tensions over the Falklands came after US President Donald Trump hinted the US would not help the UK in a future conflict over the archipelago.