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Burnham to decide North Sea drilling, faces net-zero push.

8/8/2026

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Summary

Story summary

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham said he will be pragmatic about oil and gas and will decide on North Sea drilling soon.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan wrote in the Guardian that Burnham must reaffirm net-zero goals and cut oil-gas reliance.
Ten UK trade-union leaders have asked Burnham to revoke U.S. use of British airbases for strikes.

History

Historical Context

North Sea oil, first discovered in 1975, peaked in 1999 before production halved by 2010, leaving an estimated 920 million tonnes of recoverable crude in 2009. After a five-year moratorium, the UK government approved new licences in 2015, reviving drilling. Today Prime Minister Andy Burnham, urged by Mayor Sadiq Khan and trade-union leaders, must align those licences with the UK’s net-zero commitments.

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Story summary

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham said he will be pragmatic about oil and gas and will decide on North Sea drilling soon.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan wrote in the Guardian that Burnham must reaffirm net-zero goals and cut oil-gas reliance.
Ten UK trade-union leaders have asked Burnham to revoke U.S. use of British airbases for strikes.

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