Burnham risks Labour backlash if he reverses ban on new oil and gas drilling
Party manifesto pledged to honour existing North Sea exploration licences but not issue new onesAndy Burnham risks his first confrontation with Labour MPs if he announces new oil a
By The Guardian
Incoming prime minister Andy Burnham is expected to announce plans for new oil and gas drilling in the North Sea within days of taking office on Monday, risking a confrontation with Labour MPs who signed up to the party’s 2024 manifesto pledge against issuing new licences . Burnham’s team has asked the civil service to draw up plans to approve drilling projects at the Jackdaw gas field and Rosebank oil field off the coast of Scotland, alongside an expansion of tie-backs that allow further drilling near existing fields .
The Labour Party’s 2024 manifesto, which Burnham said he would follow, pledged not to issue new licences but to honour existing North Sea exploration licences . The fate of the Rosebank and Jackdaw oil fields, previously approved but later overturned, has been a contentious issue within the party, with some MPs advocating for more drilling to reduce energy bills while others prioritise renewable energy for security .
Burnham has previously said he is open-minded about expanding North Sea drilling, indicating he does not yet hold a fixed position on the issue . Labour’s 2024 manifesto argued that new North Sea licences would not take a penny off bills or improve energy security while accelerating climate change, and Burnham has been urged to stick to this pledge and block further drilling .
Burnham is also preparing to announce plans to take public control of Thames Water as part of the same policy blitz .