Donald Trump has offered unsolicited advice to incoming Labour leader Andy Burnham, urging him to open up the North Sea for oil drilling—a suggestion he claims Sir Keir Starmer ignored. The US President, speaking on Wednesday, described Burnham as 'extremely liberal' and expressed doubt that he would pursue fossil fuel extraction.
Trump's Remarks on Burnham
Trump admitted he knew little about Burnham, who is set to be anointed as Labour leader. 'I don't know, I think I see that he was, I guess, the mayor of a town,' Trump said. 'I hear he's extremely liberal, extremely, so that means he probably won't open up the North Sea.'
The former mayor of Greater Manchester has positioned himself as a progressive figure, advocating for green policies and climate action. Trump's comments suggest a stark ideological divide between the two leaders.
Advice for the UK
Trump claimed he had previously advised Starmer to exploit North Sea reserves. 'I gave Keir Starmer some pretty good advice. I said, open up the North Sea, go to Aberdeen, which was the hottest city of the whole continent,' Trump said. 'It was the oil city of Europe, and they closed everything. It was terrible. I couldn't believe it.'
Aberdeen, historically a hub for the UK's oil and gas industry, has seen a decline in drilling activity amid the country's push toward net-zero emissions. Trump argued that the UK is missing out on economic opportunities.
Oil Company Pressure
Trump asserted that oil executives are lobbying him for access to UK waters. 'The North Sea is loaded, I have had every oil company come to see me: "Sir, could you give us access to the UK? We would do anything to drill in the North Sea,"' he said.
He contrasted the UK's approach with Norway's, which continues to extract North Sea oil. 'The amazing thing is, they buy their oil from Norway, which gets the oil from the North Sea. Think of it, and they pay a big premium,' Trump said. 'Norway's got now two trillion dollars in the bank, and the UK is dying, so they should open up the North Sea, and it's an easy one, and a lot of good things are going to happen.'
Economic Implications
Trump described the potential for North Sea drilling as 'among the greatest deals in the world.' His comments come as his own approval ratings have plunged to 30%, with even his supporters losing confidence. The UK government has faced criticism for high energy costs and reliance on imported oil.
Burnham has not yet responded to Trump's remarks. The incoming Labour leader is expected to outline his energy policy in the coming weeks, balancing climate commitments with economic pressures.
