Andy Burnham signals pragmatic shift on North Sea oil and gas drilling

UK Labour leader Andy Burnham announced he will adopt a "pragmatic" approach to exploiting North Sea oil and gas, saying the resource cannot be ignored while households grapple with the cost of living. He referred to a recent phone call with former US President Donald Trump in which he pledged to "open up" the North Sea. Burnham hinted that licences for the Jackdaw gas field and the Rosebank oil field could be approved as early as next month, with Jackdaw potentially supplying British homes this winter. Experts estimate that lifting the ban could raise up to £25 billion in tax revenue over the next decade and safeguard thousands of jobs. The stance marks a departure from Labour’s 2024 manifesto, which pledged not to issue new North Sea licences, and has drawn criticism from the Green Party and some Labour figures, while ministers consider easing the windfall tax on energy profits.