US President Donald Trump has claimed that Prime Minister Andy Burnham told him he would "open up the North Sea" for oil drilling, asserting that this action would make the UK "a really rich country" due to vast reserves.
Speaking at a White House briefing, Trump estimated the North Sea holds up to 700 years' worth of oil, criticising the UK for its reliance on windmills and importing oil from Norway despite its own significant resources.
Trump contrasted Burnham's alleged commitment with his previous inability to persuade Sir Keir Starmer to pursue North Sea oil extraction during his premiership.
These claims were made amidst the UK experiencing its fourth heatwave of the year, with record temperatures and widespread drought, which has intensified calls to reduce fossil fuel dependency.
Downing Street's official summary of the phone conversation between Burnham and Trump last Monday made no mention of oil drilling, instead focusing on the Prime Minister's vision for reindustrialisation, defence, and security.
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Trump says Burnham will ‘open up North Sea’ for oil drilling
