- President Donald Trump has waded into the debate over North Sea drilling once again, the night before Andy Burnham becomes Prime Minister.
- Trump, a vocal supporter of fossil fuels, claimed on his Truth Social platform that Burnham will fully open up North Sea oil, writing, “The People of Aberdeen, in Scotland, are dancing in the streets because the new Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, has stated that he will be opening up, all the way, the invaluable North Sea Oil!”
- Trump continued, “It is one of the greatest sources of quality oil on Earth, has hundreds of years of capacity left, with much not even found yet, and will make the United Kingdom, from a poverty stricken disaster, to one of the richest countries anywhere in the world! Britain pays Norway billions of dollars a year to buy its oil, which they get from a less valuable part of the North Sea — how ridiculous is that!”
- The incoming prime minister, who will enter Downing Street Monday, has insisted he would stick to Labour’s manifesto pledge not to issue new North Sea licences, with Labour’s deputy leader Lucy Powell dubbing Burnham’s plans for the North Sea a “change in emphasis” as he weighs up approving further oil and gas drilling.
- Beyond the energy debate, Burnham has also announced plans to scrap Sir Keir Starmer’s flagship digital ID programme, redirecting the allocated funds to more 'tangible' improvements, while Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch criticised his lack of detailed policy announcements.
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