What specific North Sea oil and gas projects is incoming Prime Minister Andy Burnham signaling support for, and how does his position align with Labour’s manifesto pledge?

Andy Burnham is signaling willingness to approve new drilling at the Jackdaw gas field and Rosebank oil field off Scotland’s coast, as well as expand ‘tie-backs’—drilling near existing infrastructure. His team asserts that approving these projects would not breach Labour’s manifesto pledge to ban *fresh licenses* for new oil and gas exploration, because the licenses for Jackdaw and Rosebank were already granted under the previous Conservative government. No final decision has been made, and the ultimate approval authority rests with Burnham’s yet-to-be-named Energy Secretary—not the cabinet—and the current Energy Secretary, Ed Miliband, has resisted new drilling despite expressing pragmatism on North Sea oil and gas.

What form of public control over Thames Water is Andy Burnham most likely to implement, and what is the current status of that process?

Burnham’s aides are preparing an announcement on public control of Thames Water, with officials indicating it is likely he will place the utility into special administration—a form of temporary nationalization. Thames Water supplies 16 million customers in London and the surrounding areas, and Burnham stated in a June Guardian interview that it ‘should be nationalized’, though he has not clarified whether that means temporary or permanent. Regulator Ofwat is withholding any decision on Thames Water’s future until it gains greater clarity following the leadership transition, and talks between Ofwat and senior creditors—including Apollo Global Management, Elliott Management, and Silver Point Capital—have stalled.

Burnham to Back North Sea Oil Drilling and Take Control of Thames Water

Jul 16, 2026

Incoming UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham plans to approve new North Sea oil and gas drilling while moving towards public control of Thames Water. The strategy targets energy security amidst geopolitical tensions and addresses the utility's financial crisis.

bloomberg

2026-07-14

Burnham Faces Day One Warning of Souring UK Economy and Oil Risk

2026-07-16

Burnham to Back North Sea Oil Drilling and Take Control of Thames Water

2026-07-19

Good Growth in Every Postcode: Burnham’s Economic To-Do List in Seven Charts

2026-07-30

Burnham Says Won’t Ignore North Sea in Hint at More UK Drilling

2026-08-04

North Sea Oil Expansion Deemed Litmus Test for Burnham