Incoming Prime Minister Burnham to Approve North Sea Drilling, Breaking Labour’s Election Vow

Andy Burnham is set to announce new oil and gas drilling in the North Sea, a move that directly contradicts the Labour Party’s 2024 manifesto pledge to halt new licences. The decision, reported by BBC News, represents a significant policy reversal from the prime minister-in-waiting and has already drawn criticism from environmental and political opponents.

BBC NewsBurnham to announce plans for new North Sea oil and gas drilling

According to bbc.co.uk, the controversy centres on the Rosebank and Jackdaw fields off Scotland. These projects were initially approved by the previous Conservative government but were overturned in 2025 following a legal challenge. Burnham’s announcement is part of a broader set of economic measures, though the precise timing and scope of the new drilling plans remain unclear.

"Labour’s 2024 manifesto, which Mr Burnham has promised to honour, said the party would not issue new North Sea licences."

Irish NewsAndy Burnham urged to stick to Labour manifesto on North Sea oil

That pledge, now seemingly abandoned, has drawn sharp attention from the Irish News, which reported on calls for Burnham to stick to the original manifesto. The incoming prime minister’s decision walks a tightrope between energy security, jobs, and climate commitments, a balancing act that will define his early tenure.

bbc.co.uk noted that the Rosebank and Jackdaw fields are among the largest untapped oil reserves in the North Sea. By moving to reopen them, Burnham signals a pragmatic approach to energy independence, but risks alienating the left flank of his own party and the environmental voters who helped Labour return to power.

The announcement is expected to be paired with other measures to soften the blow, such as investment in renewables or a windfall tax on oil profits, though no details have emerged yet. For now, the Labour leader is set to break a central manifesto promise before he even takes office.