Trump claims Andy Burnham ‘will open up North Sea oil’ as Brits are ‘dancing in streets’
Donald Trump has claimed that new Prime Minister Andy Burnham will open up the North Sea oil and stop windmills as he says Brits in part of the UK are now “dancing in the streets”
US President Donald Trump claims Brits are ‘dancing in the streets’(Image: POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Donald Trump says Brits are currently “dancing in the streets” after the US President claimed new Prime Minister Andy Burnham will open up the North sea for oil.
Trump has continued to pressure the UK into opening up the North Sea since his White House return, even claiming oil companies had asked him about the possibility of it happening. Now he claims the new PM is set to open it up for oil giants and also get rid of “horrible looking windmills” in Aberdeen, Scotland.
Burnham has yet to confirm this but it is believed that Trump is going off media reports that have suggested he could approve new oil and gas drilling in the North Sea. It has been claimed that Burnham is said to be “open-minded” about such a move.
(Image: Getty Images)
In a lengthy post on his platform Truth Social, 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!
“It is one of the Greatest Sources of quality Oil on Earth, has hundreds of years of Capacity left, with much not even found yet, and will make the United Kingdom, from a Poverty Stricken Disaster, to one of the Richest Countries anywhere in the World!
“Britain pays Norway Billions of Dollars a year to buy its Oil, which they get from a less valuable part of the North Sea — How ridiculous is that! Also, word is that the UK is going to move the old and horrible looking windmills, which loom over and destroy the City of Aberdeen.
Media reports suggest Burnham could be open to new gas and oil projects(Image: Getty Images)
“That will be a big day for the Country, and will be very much appreciated by everybody. Such great potential in the UK, but it all starts with OPENING NORTH SEA OIL. WE LOVE YOU SCOTLAND!”
If Burnham does consider new gas and oil projects, he would be going against Labour’s manifesto to block further drilling in the North Sea.
Labour’s 2024 manifesto, which Burnham has promised to honour, said the party would not issue new North Sea licences, arguing they would “not take a penny off bills” or improve energy security while accelerating climate change.
Speaking on BBC’s Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg, Labour’s deputy leader Lucy Powell said there would be a “change of emphasis” on North Sea oil and gas, but said Burnham would stick to the party’s manifesto commitments.
Trump had urged Keir Starmer to open up the North Sea for oil(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
Powell said that reports he could allow more drilling in the North Sea were “speculation” but added the new PM, who takes office officially tomorrow, would take a “more pragmatic approach”.
She said: “We’ve been really clear that the way to achieve, in the long term, energy security and lower bills is by ensuring that we do have our our own homegrown, clean, much cheaper energy.
“But we’ve been absolutely clear that North Sea gas and oil is an important part of that transition.
“It’s an important part of the mix, and I think what Andy’s talking about is taking a more pragmatic approach and working with the industry to make sure that it can contribute to that transition and to the the mix that is needed over the long term.
“So let’s see what he’s got to say about that. But I don’t think it’s a change of policy. It’s more a change of emphasis.”
For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters.
