New PM’s Drill Gambit Ignites Revolt

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Britain’s incoming Prime Minister Andy Burnham is preparing to fast-track production at two major North Sea oil and gas fields — and his own Labour Party is already erupting in revolt.

Story Snapshot

Burnham is expected to approve production at the Rosebank and Jackdaw North Sea fields, which already hold exploration licences — meaning no new licences need to be issued.
Industry groups and trade unions formally asked Burnham to back North Sea drilling, warning that blocking it risks mass job losses in Scotland and northeast England.
Over 60 Labour members of Parliament and members of the Scottish Parliament have publicly opposed the move, calling it a betrayal of the party’s climate goals.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves said in April 2026 she would be “very happy” to support exploration at both sites, signaling top-level backing for the plan.

Burnham Signals Support for North Sea Drilling

Andy Burnham, set to become Britain’s next Prime Minister, is described as “open-minded” about approving more North Sea oil and gas production. He has secured backing from more than 300 members of Parliament and says he is focused on “doing what is best for Britain.” The two fields at the center of the debate — Rosebank and Jackdaw — already hold exploration licences. That means approving production would not require issuing any new licences, keeping the move technically in line with Labour’s 2024 manifesto pledge.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves added her voice to the pro-drilling camp in April 2026, saying she would be “very happy” to support exploration at both sites. Neil McCulloch, chief executive of energy firm Adura, said approving the fields would “unlock significant benefits for the UK, including enhanced energy security for winter.” The decision on whether to give final production approval will fall to the incoming energy secretary, whose identity has not yet been announced.

Jobs and Energy Security Drive the Push

Oil and gas industry groups and trade unions sent a formal letter to Burnham and all Labour members of Parliament, urging them to “back North Sea oil and gas… for our jobs and communities, our economy and energy security.” Shevaun Haviland of the British Chambers of Commerce put the stakes plainly: the UK is currently importing liquefied natural gas, which she said is both pricier and less eco-friendly than using domestic reserves. She warned that leaving the fields untapped risks mass job losses in Scotland and northeast England.

The practical energy security argument is real but not without limits. Research cited by Politico found that Jackdaw and Rosebank would replace only about 2% and 1% of annual imported UK gas demand, respectively. Critics also note that the UK exports most of the oil it already produces, so there is no guarantee that any new North Sea output would stay in Britain to lower energy bills. These are fair points — but they do not erase the jobs at stake or the cost difference between domestic production and imported gas.

Labour Rebels Push Back Hard

At least 60 Labour members of Parliament and members of the Scottish Parliament have publicly opposed approving Rosebank, urging Burnham to reject what they call “special pleading” from industry. Green Party member of Parliament Adrian Ramsay called approval “the wrong response.” Greenpeace wants Burnham to “stick to the spirit of the manifesto” and reject both fields entirely. The International Energy Agency has also argued that no investment should go into new oil and gas fields beyond those already in development as of 2021.

Incoming British Prime Minister Andy Burnham Will Fast-Track New North Sea Oil Drilling Projects – Is Already Facing Pushback From His ‘Net-Zero’ Labour Party Membershttps://t.co/9uZCyEqhdv https://t.co/IM57gtt2K0

— Freddie Stiehl (@FgsBbc) July 19, 2026

Despite the pushback, Labour member of Parliament Bill Esterson, who chairs the Energy Security and Net Zero Committee, told reporters his assumption is that “both Jackdaw and Rosebank will go ahead,” noting that even some climate-focused Labour members have accepted that Jackdaw approval is likely. President Trump weighed in as well, publicly calling Burnham “extremely liberal” and criticizing any reluctance to drill — a signal that US-UK energy relations are being closely watched. Burnham’s team has confirmed no final decisions have been made, but the direction of travel is clear: practical energy needs are pushing Britain toward the drill bit, even as the left wing of his own party digs in against it.