Kemi Badenoch has stepped up her criticism of Andy Burnham, urging the Greater Manchester mayor to support new oil and gas drilling in the North Sea instead of aligning with what she described as hardline net zero campaigners. The intervention adds fresh heat to the wider political argument over how the UK should balance energy security, jobs and climate goals.
Her comments came after a roundtable discussion with industry figures, where the future of domestic energy production was a central theme. Badenoch argued that backing North Sea oil and gas would be a more practical approach for protecting employment and supporting the country’s energy needs during the transition to lower-carbon power.
The remarks also targeted Energy Secretary Ed Miliband, with Badenoch framing the issue as part of a broader divide between those prioritising rapid net zero measures and those calling for continued investment in traditional energy sources. The exchange highlights how North Sea drilling remains a politically charged issue, especially in regions linked to the energy sector.
The latest row underlines the pressure on Labour figures to clarify where they stand on domestic fossil fuel production. With the debate over net zero policy intensifying, energy strategy is again emerging as a key battleground in UK politics.
