Burnham accused of letting Trump ‘call the shots’ on Scotland’s energy
Andy Burnham is letting Donald Trump ‘call the shots’ on Scotland’s energy and must come clean on what he promised Donald Trump, the Scottish Greens have said.
This follows the US President claiming the new Prime Minister told him he would “open up North Sea oil”, yet another clear signal that the UK Government is giving the green light to new drilling.
Labour’s 2024 manifesto explicitly promised not to issue new licences because they would not cut bills or deliver energy security and would worsen the climate crisis. This week, climate scientists who helped shape Burnham’s climate plans for Greater Manchester have also warned him against approving new drilling.
Scottish Greens co-leader Gillian Mackay MSP said:
“Straight out of the gate, Andy Burnham sounds like he has already made one of the most consequential and damaging decisions of his premiership.
“By letting Donald Trump call the shots on the North Sea, Andy Burnham is tearing up one of the clearest promises Labour made to win power in 2024. He is playing fast and loose with our climate and paving the way for environmental catastrophe.
“Even the climate scientists who helped shape Burnham’s clean-energy plans for Greater Manchester when he was mayor are raising the alarm, who he was happy to listen to when he wanted to be elected mayor.
“So far it’s coming across as if Andy Burnham tells voters one thing at an election, and then once in office, tells Donald Trump something completely different behind closed doors.
“This is the same weakness we saw from Keir Starmer, who repeatedly allowed Trump to walk all over him - if the new Prime Minister wants people to believe he is bringing new politics, then he must tell the public exactly what he promised Donald Trump in their private phone call.”
Gillian added:
"People across Scotland are seeing that the climate emergency is not a distant threat, it’s happening here right at home.
“Communities in the Cairngorms have been turned upside down due to the major wildfire, forcing people from their homes and leaving firefighters, volunteers and local businesses dealing with the consequences. Meanwhile the comparisons of the tragic fires across Spain and France are hard to ignore.
“Burnham must stop sticking his head in the sand, without serious climate action, fires and extreme weather like this will become increasingly common and destructive. Scotland should be looking to the future, not doubling down on the failed energy policies of the past imposed by Westminster.
“Opening up new oil and gas fields will not cut household bills, protect families from volatile prices or deliver energy security. It would instead lock us further into long-term decline while handing another gift to oil and gas giants already making obscene profits.
“It also leaves our talented energy workers in the lurch, denying them a just transition into an energy sector that works in the long-term and common good, not short-term financial gain.
“People want lower bills, secure green jobs and a safe future for their children, not more broken promises and fossil-fuel policies dictated by Donald Trump, and the Scottish Greens are the only party offering a clear and credible plan: investing in Scotland’s enormous renewable potential and putting people and planet before corporate profit.”