UK signals pragmatic stance on North Sea oil and gas after Trump call

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has said he told US President Donald Trump that the UK would take a pragmatic approach to North Sea oil and gas. The comments point to a possible shift in tone on one of the country's most sensitive energy policy questions. Trump has claimed Burnham pledged to open up the North Sea, although the government has not announced any change in policy.

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Burnham said he had told Trump there is a resource in the North Sea and that it could not be ignored when people are struggling. He said his intention was to take a pragmatic approach going forward. Trump has long urged the UK to increase drilling and said he believed Burnham had promised to open up the basin in their first phone call.

The issue matters because Labour's 2024 general election manifesto promised not to issue new drilling licences, while saying existing ones would be honoured. That pledge has been under pressure from trade unions, industry figures and some Labour MPs who want more support for domestic production. Ed Miliband, who previously backed the manifesto position as energy secretary, had described the Rosebank licence as climate vandalism before becoming foreign secretary in Burnham's government.

North Sea oil and gas remains politically significant because it sits at the intersection of energy security, jobs and climate policy. The basin has long been central to the UK's energy debate, and any suggestion of a softer stance can draw attention from both supporters of domestic production and critics concerned about emissions. Trump's public comments have added an international dimension to a domestic policy argument that was already under way.

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The latest remarks also come against a backdrop of continuing debate over how quickly the UK should move away from fossil fuels while managing energy costs. Burnham's language suggests flexibility, but he has not announced any new licences or formal policy change. That leaves open the question of whether the government is signalling a broader review or simply trying to balance competing pressures.

What remains unclear is whether the prime minister's comments will translate into any concrete decision on licensing, investment or regulation. It is also not clear how far the government is prepared to go in revisiting Labour's manifesto position. For now, the key issue is whether Burnham's stated pragmatism becomes policy or remains a political signal in an ongoing debate.

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