Andy Burnham is expected to announce an expansion of North Sea oil and gas drilling in the early weeks of his premiership. Whilst the plans are not yet concrete and the announcement date is not certain, senior members of the party, including deputy leader Lucy Powell, have given confirmation that there will be a greater emphasis on North Sea oil and gas. Burnham begins his tenure in a tricky position, making clear his plans to abide by Labour’s 2024 manifesto — a manifesto which committed to not issuing new drilling licences.
