Andy Burnham approving new drilling licences in the North Sea would damage the UK's security and hurt families struggling with the cost of living, charities have warned in a major intervention. Nineteen groups including Oxfam and Greenpeace wrote to the incoming prime minister expressing 'alarm' at reports he might water down the UK's focus on renewables.
Coalition of Charities Raises Alarm
In a letter signed by organisations such as RSPB, Oxfam, Friends of the Earth, Green Alliance and The Climate Coalition, the former Greater Manchester Mayor was urged not to issue new licences. The intervention comes ahead of a speech in Downing Street on Monday, where the new PM is expected to set out plans to provide 'breathing space' on the cost of living and bring economic growth to every part of the UK.
Media reports have suggested that could involve approving new oil and gas drilling in the North Sea, with Mr Burnham said to be 'open-minded' about such a move. However, this would put him at odds with Labour’s 2024 manifesto, which promised 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.
Greenpeace and Uplift Speak Out
Amy Cameron, Greenpeace UK’s programme director, told this newspaper: 'Andy Burnham was spot on in his acceptance speech when he promised to end the UK’s “cover up culture.” But if he wants to see that culture at its absolute worst, he needs to look at the multi-billion-pound oil lobby, which has spent decades covering up its role in destroying our climate. Weakening Labour's stance on the North Sea to appease these profiteering giants would be a disastrous first move. You can't claim to stand for transparency and ordinary people while signing off on new fossil fuel drilling that lines the pockets of billionaires while doing absolutely nothing to lower household energy bills.'
Tessa Khan, executive director of NGO Uplift, said: 'It would be a terrible look if the first thing Andy Burnham does is cave to the demands of oil and gas profiteers. It’s naive to think that new drilling would stem the decline in oil and gas jobs, which have more than halved over the past decade, despite hundreds of new licences and new fields. Oil companies aren’t investing in clean energy, which would provide work for future generations - they just want to make as much money as they can and then quit. Burnham has a clear choice: protect oil company profits, or protect people from rising bills and a worsening climate crisis – and back jobs that have a future. That should be an easy choice for anyone listening to the public.'
Political Divisions and Lobbying Efforts
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has been a strong supporter of Labour’s manifesto commitment on the North Sea, a decision that some in Westminster feel could prevent him becoming Chancellor. The past week has seen a significant lobbying effort in favour of new licences, with energy industry leaders and trade union bosses publishing an open letter to Labour MPs calling for them to back North Sea oil and gas.
The issue has split unions, with Sharon Graham, the leader of Unite, which represents workers in the oil and gas industry, backing new drilling, while the UK’s biggest union, Unison, has called for no more drilling. Opponents of further drilling say the global oil market means extra production in the North Sea would make no difference to energy bills, while being more expensive to extract. Labour declined to comment.
