Andy Burnham says he told the US president he couldn't ignore North Sea resources when people are struggling.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has said he told US President Donald Trump he would take a "pragmatic approach" to the issue of North Sea oil and gas. Trump has long urged the UK to increase drilling and claimed that Burnham had pledged to "open up the North Sea" in their first phone call together. Asked about the president's comments, the new prime minister said: "There is a resource there. When people are struggling - you can't ignore that and hence me indicating that to the president." Burnham has faced pressure from some trade unions, industry figures and some of his own Labour MPs to back increased drilling in the North Sea. In its 2024 general election manifesto, Labour promised not to issue new licences for drilling but said it would honour existing ones. As energy secretary in Sir Keir Starmer's government, Ed Miliband was a staunch supporter of Labour's manifesto position. He has previously described the licence issued to Rosebank, Britain's largest untapped oil and gas field, as "climate vandalism". Although the government has not made any announcements on the issue, Trump has praised what he perceives as a change of stance by the UK government. In a social media post, published the day before Burnham became prime minister,, external Trump wrote: "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!"