Andy Burnham, the new Prime Minister of the UK, has denied that he promised US President Donald Trump to increase drilling in the North Sea oil and gas fields. Instead, Burnham said he told Trump that he would take a "pragmatic approach" to the issue, citing the potential economic benefits for people struggling with energy costs. This stance is at odds with Labour's 2024 general election manifesto, which promised not to issue new licences for drilling but to honour existing ones. Some trade unions and industry figures are urging the government to approve more drilling in the North Sea.
Written by the local model on 2026-08-21,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Why this leaning score
The article presents both Burnham's and Trump's views on North Sea oil without taking a clear stance, but some wording and phrasing suggest a more sympathetic tone towards Trump's position, such as quoting his optimistic predictions for the UK's economy if it 'opens up' the North Sea. Additionally, the article mentions Labour's manifesto promise not to issue new licences for drilling in neutral terms, without explicitly criticising or questioning this stance.
Written under an earlier scoring contract, which gave a paragraph
rather than checkable quotes. Re-analysing this article replaces it.
Leaning score +0.65 for article 163 · logged 2026-07-31
- Published
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has said he told US President Donald Trump he would take a "pragmatic approach" to the issue of North Sea oil and gas.
asserted
he → publish → oil
Trump has long urged the UK to increase drilling and claimed that Burnham had pledged to "open up the North Sea" in their first phone call together.
asserted
Burnham → urge → call
Asked about the president's comments, the new prime minister said: "There is a resource there.
asserted
minister → ask → comments
When people are struggling - you can't ignore that and hence me indicating that to the president."
asserted
me → struggle → president
Burnham has faced pressure from some trade unions, industry figures and some of his own Labour MPs to back increased drilling in the North Sea.
asserted
Burnham → face → Sea
In its 2024 general election manifesto, Labour promised not to issue new licences for drilling but said it would honour existing ones.
asserted
it → promise → ones
He has previously described the licence issued to Rosebank, Britain's largest untapped oil and gas field, as "climate vandalism".
asserted
He → describe → vandalism
Although the government has not made any announcements on the issue, Trump has praised what he perceives as a change of stance by the UK government.
asserted
he → make → government
In a social media post, published the day before Burnham became prime minister,, external 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!"
asserted
he → publish → Oil
This week, when asked about his conversation with Burnham, Trump said: "He said he's going to open up North Sea oil.
"
asserted
he → ask → oil
If he does that, you're going to be a wealthy country."
asserted
you → do → that
He later added: "You buy a lot of your energy, as you know, from the North Sea.
asserted
you → add → Sea
You buy from Norway and Norway gets it from the North Sea...
asserted
Norway → buy → Sea
Norway's got trillions of dollars in the bank."
asserted
Norway → get → bank
"Scotland has a better part of the North Sea."
asserted
Scotland → have → Sea
Asked about Trump's comments, Burnham 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."
asserted
we → ask → Sea
In response, Green Party leader Zack Polanski said: "Our country is burning.
asserted
country → say → response
Crops are failing.
asserted
Crops → fail → ?
Thousands have been killed by extreme heat.
"
asserted
Thousands → kill → heat
Allowing new oil and gas drilling in the North Sea will worsen the climate breakdown putting more lives at risk and doing untold damage to our economy.
asserted
Allowing → allow → economy
It's not too late for Burnham to do the right thing and commit to leaving dangerous fossil fuels in the ground."
asserted
Burnham → do → ground
The Conservatives and Reform have urged the government to approve more drilling in the North Sea, arguing it would reduce energy prices.
asserted
it → urge → prices
Last year, Tory Party leader Kemi Badenoch said it would be "absurd" for the UK to leave "vital resources untapped".
asserted
UK → say → resources
Some Labour MPs have expressed unease about more drilling, with Rachael Maskell urging the government to "follow the climate science because we have got a climate emergency".
asserted
we → express → emergency
Simon Francis, from the End Fuel Poverty Coalition, said: "No household struggling with their energy bills will see a penny come off by drilling more from the North Sea.
"
asserted
penny → say → Sea
Gas is sold at the global market prices, so whatever is pumped out is sold to the highest bidder, not handed to British billpayers at a discount."
asserted
pumped → sell → discount
Sir Keir's government had already made concessions, allowing "tie-backs" - production in unlicensed areas close to or connected to already licensed areas.
asserted
government → make → areas
Currently, the debate over North Sea drilling has focused on two oil and gas fields - Rosebank and Jackdaw, located in Scotland.
asserted
debate → focus → Scotland
In 2022 and 2023, regulators approved drilling at the sites, but that was overturned in 2025 following a legal challenge.
asserted
that → approve → challenge
The legal process is ongoing, but the government will at some point have to decide whether to permit companies to produce oil in the two areas.
asserted
government → have → areas
Other oil and gas licences have been approved in recent years but remain largely undeveloped.
asserted
licences → approve → years
If he wanted to encourage more drilling in the North Sea, Burnham could also opt to scrap the Energy Profits Levy, also known as the windfall tax.
uncertain
Burnham → want → tax
The levy is due to be replaced in 2030 by another windfall tax, which operators prefer because it's only triggered when prices are high and falls back when they are low.
asserted
they → replace → which
It'll be delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
asserted
It → deliver → inbox
