Andy Burnham dodges North Sea drilling decision, sparking flip-flop claims

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has declined to commit to new North Sea oil and gas drilling, instead delaying the decision and drawing accusations that he is repeating the fence-sitting habits of his predecessor. The announcement, made on Monday, set back any move to expand domestic fossil fuel production and has left both sides of the energy debate unhappy.

Mr Burnham's delay was reported to stem from concerns about the "optics" of embracing fossil fuels at a time when the government is also pushing its net zero agenda. This has triggered criticism from those who want to see domestic energy maximised, as well as from his own political opponents, who compare him unfavourably to the previous prime minister, Sir Keir Starmer, who was often mocked for sitting on the fence.

During a heated discussion, former Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng argued that Mr Burnham would ultimately need to drill in the North Sea to secure the country's energy resources, but that he would avoid taking a clear side because of ideological divisions within his own party. "There are fundamental ideological splits within his coalition, the left, on the North Sea," Mr Kwarteng said. He predicted Mr Burnham would "fudge it" and not come down on one side.

Former Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon dismissed the idea that Burnham is flip-flopping, pointing out that he has been in office for only a few weeks and that Parliament is in recess. He said answers would come in September. But Mr Kwarteng insisted that the problem would not disappear, describing an irreconcilable gap between those who want to exploit the resources and environmental campaigners who oppose new licences.

The issue is complicated by the Labour manifesto's apparent promise to ban new exploration licences. When asked about this, the Energy Secretary at the time, Ed Miliband, was described as "incredibly pragmatic" by a guest on one evening programme, who said he had supported tiebacks and other extensions that allowed more extraction. That guest said he was personally in favour of developments such as Rosebank and Jackdaw, and that the UK would need oil and gas until at least 2050.

However, the original manifesto commitment is now seen as a constraint. One interviewer pointed out that if Mr Burnham wants to drill more, he cannot do so without breaking the manifesto, which could trigger a general election. This leaves the prime minister caught between a wing of his party that demands a green transition and those who fear job losses and energy insecurity.

The debate also touched on other issues, including early release of prisoners, with Mr Burnham having previously said he could not interfere with the scheme but now expressing confidence that serious offenders could be excluded. That was used as further evidence of him shifting position on key policies.

No final decision on North Sea drilling has been made. The government has not given a date for when the delay will be lifted, leaving the issue to simmer as parliament returns from its summer break.