Burnham expected to back North Sea oil and gas development after becoming UK prime minister

Incoming British Prime Minister Andy Burnham is expected to announce plans supporting further oil and gas development in the North Sea as part of a broader package of policy measures aimed at boosting the economy and easing pressure on households. Although the details have not been finalised, sources familiar with the plans say the announcement will come shortly after he officially takes office.

Burnham has previously pledged to follow Labour’s 2024 election manifesto, which promised not to issue new oil and gas exploration licences while allowing existing licences to continue. The discussion now centres on the Rosebank and Jackdaw fields off the coast of Scotland. Both projects received exploration licences under the previous Conservative government but later faced legal challenges that overturned production approvals in 2025.

People close to Burnham say no final decision has been taken, but the new government is expected to support progress on existing projects rather than approve completely new exploration licences. Because Rosebank and Jackdaw already hold licences, granting permission for production would not break Labour’s manifesto commitment.

Legal proceedings involving the two projects are still ongoing, meaning Burnham is not expected to formally approve them in his first speech as prime minister. Instead, that decision is likely to be handled by the new energy secretary once the cabinet is announced. However, Burnham is expected to signal support for accelerating development at licensed North Sea sites that have remained inactive for several years.

The expected announcement will form part of a wider policy programme that Burnham plans to introduce during his first days in office. His government is preparing proposals to increase public ownership of water and energy companies, launch a large scale council house building programme and introduce measures designed to ease the cost of living for families across the country.

The future of North Sea oil and gas has remained one of the most debated issues in British politics. Former Prime Minister Keir Starmer opposed issuing new drilling licences, arguing they would not reduce household energy bills and that Britain should instead focus on expanding renewable energy to strengthen long term energy security.

Opposition parties have taken a different view. The Conservatives and Reform UK have argued that Britain should make greater use of its domestic oil and gas resources, particularly after rising tensions in the Middle East pushed global energy prices higher. Former US President Donald Trump also criticised Britain’s energy policy and publicly urged the country to expand North Sea oil production.

The issue has also divided opinion within the Labour Party. Some MPs believe continuing limited oil and gas production is necessary to protect jobs and support energy security during the transition to cleaner sources. Others insist the government should focus entirely on renewable energy to tackle climate change and reduce future dependence on fossil fuels.

Environmental groups have strongly opposed any expansion of North Sea drilling. Labour MP Rachael Maskell said Britain should follow climate science and reduce its reliance on fossil fuels as the country experiences more frequent heatwaves and wildfires. Green Party co leader Adrian Ramsay also criticised the reported plans, arguing that approving more drilling would not lower energy bills and would undermine efforts to address climate change.

Burnham is expected to reveal more details of his policy agenda after taking office on Monday as he prepares to appoint his cabinet and begin implementing his programme for government.