Burnham Tells Trump UK Will Be 'Pragmatic' On North Sea Oil — Debate Deepens

Prime Minister Andy Burnham said he told US President Donald Trump that the UK intends to adopt a "pragmatic approach" to North Sea oil and gas during their first phone call after Burnham became prime minister.

Mr Trump, who has repeatedly urged the UK to expand drilling, publicly claimed Mr Burnham pledged to "open up the North Sea". In a social media post published the day before Burnham took office, Mr 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!" When asked about the call he added, "He said he's going to open up North Sea oil. If he does that, you're going to be a wealthy country."

Burnham has said he "indicated" during the conversation that he would be pragmatic about the basin, stressing there is an existing resource and that energy affordability concerns cannot be ignored. His remarks have amplified a heated national debate over whether the UK should expand North Sea production.

Political Positioning and Party Policy

Labour's 2024 manifesto pledged not to issue new drilling licences while honouring existing ones. As energy secretary in Sir Keir Starmer's administration, Ed Miliband defended that position and denounced the Rosebank licence as "climate vandalism"; Miliband is now foreign secretary in Burnham's government. Still, Burnham faces pressure from trade unions, industry representatives and some Labour MPs who want more home-produced oil and gas.

Supporters and Opponents

Conservative and Reform politicians argue increased North Sea output would help lower energy prices. Last year, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch called it "absurd" to leave "vital resources untapped." Advocates for expansion also point to fiscal measures such as scrapping or reducing the Energy Profits Levy (the so-called windfall tax) as a lever to boost production.

Environmental and campaign groups warn of the climate risks. Green Party leader Zack Polanski said allowing new drilling would "worsen the climate breakdown," and urged Burnham to commit to keeping fossil fuels in the ground. Campaigners from the End Fuel Poverty Coalition argue that greater North Sea output would not directly cut household energy bills because gas is sold on global markets and is typically sold to the highest bidder.

Key Projects And Legal Issues

The current debate has focused on two Scottish fields, Rosebank and Jackdaw. Regulators approved developments in 2022 and 2023, but those approvals were overturned in 2025 after legal challenges; the legal process is ongoing and the government will eventually decide whether companies can produce from those areas. Other licences granted in recent years remain largely undeveloped.

Separately, the government has permitted "tie-backs"—development of reserves in unlicensed pockets that can be connected to existing infrastructure—which has been framed as a limited industry concession without opening up entirely new licence areas.

What Comes Next

Ministers now face a complex set of choices: whether to approve production at contested fields, how strictly to adhere to the manifesto pledge on new licences, and whether fiscal policy (including the Energy Profits Levy) should be reformed to encourage or discourage further investment. Burnham's statement that he will be "pragmatic" signals a willingness to weigh energy security and household pressures against climate commitments and legal constraints.

Quote: "There is a resource there. When people are struggling - you can't ignore that and hence me indicating that to the president," Burnham said, summarising his approach.