Burnham to Trump: UK ‘can’t ignore’ its oil and gas reserves

By Nicholas Earl | 07/31/2026 06:09 AM EDT

Britain’s new leader told the U.S. president he will take a pragmatic approach to energy policy.

LONDON — Andy Burnham said Thursday he “can’t ignore” Britain’s North Sea oil and gas resources — a point he stressed to Donald Trump last week.

Britain’s new prime minister said he talked up a “pragmatic approach” to the energy sector in his first conversation with the U.S. president.

“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,” Burnham said of the exchange.

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“There is a resource there — when people are struggling, we can’t ignore that. Hence, me indicating that to the president,” he added.

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