Trump Calls Andy Burnham ‘Extremely Liberal’ and Questions His Stance on North Sea Drilling

Donald Trump has made his first public comment about Andy Burnham, describing the Labour front-runner as "extremely liberal" and suggesting he "probably won't open up" the North Sea to further oil and gas development. Trump also dismissed Burnham's national standing by referring to him as "the mayor of a town." Burnham's team declined to comment.

Why This Matters

Burnham, the new MP for Makerfield and the sole declared candidate to replace Sir Keir Starmer as Labour leader, would face significant diplomatic and policy questions if he reaches Downing Street — including how to manage relations with the US president and whether to approve major North Sea energy projects.

Burnham's Record

Throughout his time as Greater Manchester mayor, Burnham largely avoided commenting on foreign policy, focusing on domestic issues such as health, transport and regional investment. He has criticised Donald Trump in the past: in 2017 he said he would refuse to meet the then-president and urged Theresa May to withdraw a state visit invitation, calling Trump a sharer of "hateful extremist material." After the 2021 US Capitol riots, Burnham posted on X that "any UK politician who gave Trump the time of day should be ashamed right now." He has also described US politics as "polarised" and "poisonous."

North Sea Debate

Trump tied his assessment of Burnham to energy policy, saying:

"I hear he's extremely liberal, extremely, so that means he probably won't open up the North Sea."

The term "liberal" carries different connotations on either side of the Atlantic: in the US it typically denotes the political left, whereas in the UK it historically refers to opponents of heavy-handed state intervention.

Key decisions awaiting any future prime minister would include whether to approve large projects such as the Jackdaw gas field, east of Aberdeen, and the Rosebank field off the Shetland Isles. Trump has repeatedly urged the UK to prioritize oil and gas development; he said he advised Sir Keir Starmer to "open up the North Sea" and praised Aberdeen's oil industry heritage.

Politics, Economy and Climate

Rachel Reeves — who is not widely expected to remain chancellor under a Burnham administration — has signalled support for approving significant North Sea developments, telling the British Chambers of Commerce: "I think the North Sea is a crucial asset and will be for years to come and am very keen to see us use that resource."

Environmental groups, including Greenpeace, argue that new drilling would do little to cut consumer energy bills and would increase carbon emissions. The issue has become politically salient: the Conservatives recently won a by-election in Aberdeen South after campaigning for expanded North Sea drilling, arguing it would deliver jobs and energy security.

International Implications

The UK will host the G20 next year and the G7 the year after, events that would draw international scrutiny to the prime minister’s relationship with the US president. While some Labour figures have engaged with members of the US political establishment, Burnham himself has historically concentrated on domestic priorities — a stance some supporters want him to maintain even as global challenges mount.

What Remains Unclear: Whether Burnham would shift his long-standing domestic focus into a more active foreign-policy role, and how he would balance energy security, economic interests and climate commitments if confronted with decisions on Jackdaw, Rosebank and other North Sea projects.