Burnham to announce plans for new North Sea oil and gas drilling
Incoming UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham is expected to announce new oil and gas drilling licenses in the North Sea. This move marks a shift from previous Labour manifesto pledges and has sparked internal debate regarding energy security and climate goals.
Why it matters
The decision highlights the tension between economic energy security and environmental commitments in UK politics.
Image source, Reuters Image caption, The announcement will form part of a flurry of policy measures from the incoming prime minister
Andy Burnham will announce plans for new oil and gas drilling in the North Sea when he becomes prime minister on Monday, the BBC has been told.
The Labour Party's 2024 manifesto - which the new leader said he would follow - had pledged to not issue new licences but to honour existing ones.
At the heart of the debate are two oil fields in Scotland - Rosebank and Jackdaw - which regulators approved in 2022 and 2023 under the then Conservative government, but were overturned in 2025 after a legal challenge.
The announcement will form part of a flurry of policy measures from Burnham, including plans to take water and energy companies under public control and a new council house-building programme.
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