Donald Trump has claimed the UK is currently a “bankrupt country” as he urged the prime minister to open up the North Sea oil fields.
In a press conference on Monday, the US president said he thinks he and Andy Burnham are “going to have a very good relationship” and that Mr Burnham “sounded terrific” when the pair spoke about drilling in the North Sea.
He also stressed the need for Europe to gain control of illegal immigration as he claimed: “I know Europe better than anyone, even the people who run it”.
open image in galleryLabour’s 2024 manifesto vowed not to issue North Sea licences and Mr Burnham previously promised to stand by commitments made in the manifesto that delivered a large majority for Labour.
But he told Mr Trump he will be “pragmatic” about North Sea oil, leaving the door open for future drilling in the area, during a call after he took office last month.
Speaking on Monday, Mr Trump said: “You’ve got to stop illegal immigration in Europe, I know Europe better than anyone, even the people who run it. I’ve got great relationships with Europe. Two things are killing Europe, number one is immigration, number two is energy.”
He continued: “When you look at the UK, they have one of the best energy fields in the world, the North Sea, I think your new prime minister is actually going to open up from what I hear. I spoke to him and he sounded terrific on this subject. You open it up and you’ll be a wealthy country. You keep it closed and you’ll be a bankrupt country, which is what you are now.
“Essentially, you’re a bankrupt country. You have one of the greatest energy fields in the North Sea. The UK buys its energy from Norway, who gets its energy from the North Sea, not as vibrant a part of the North Sea. You’re sitting on top of gold, better than gold and you don’tdo anything with it, you don’t allow the oil companies in.”
open image in galleryHe said that during a conversation with Mr Burnham, he stressed upon him that “not every country has that choice” to use their natural resources.
He claimed that Aberdeen had been the oil capital of Europe until the “liberals got in and destroyed it”.
When asked about the controversial policy last week, Mr Burnham said “I indicated in the phone call that we had a week last Monday that I would take a pragmatic approach when it comes to the North Sea, and that is my intention as we go forward from here,” the prime minister said.
“There is a resource there. When people are struggling, we can’t ignore that. Hence, me indicating that to the president.”
Ed Miliband, who held the energy and net zero brief under Sir Keir Starmer, had been a strong supporter of the election pledge but has now taken the foreign secretary role.
His successor as energy secretary, Miatta Fahnbulleh, has said the manifesto was clear there is scope to exploit existing licences and that oil and gas are “part of the mix” – but would not be drawn on whether there are plans to go further.
Mr Burnham’s Government is also facing calls from the energy sector to approve the Jackdaw gas field east of Aberdeen and Rosebank oilfield west of Shetland.
Campaigners have warned that doing so would break Labour’s election pledge.
Consultations on the projects are due to run between 10-17 August, with the Offshore Petroleum Regulator for Environment and Decommissioning (Opred) due to make a recommendation to the UK Government after that.