Andy Burnham is expected to relax restrictions on new oil and gas drilling in the North Sea when he becomes prime minister on Monday, marking a departure from Labour's 2024 manifesto pledge not to issue new licences. Burnham, who emerged as the sole leadership candidate backed by 379 Labour MPs and all 11 trade unions, is also set to announce plans to bring water and energy companies under public control alongside a new council house-building programme.
The incoming prime minister may reference the Rosebank and Jackdaw fields, approved under the Conservatives but overturned by a Scottish court in 2025, in his first speech. Green MP Adrian Ramsay called approving new drilling the wrong response that would do nothing to bring down energy bills, while Burnham has been urged to block further drilling ahead of the announcement.
The policy shift follows a Conservative by-election victory in Scotland last month partly attributed to backing for more drilling, and comes after industry and union leaders pressed Labour MPs to support expanded extraction.