Kemi Badenoch urges Burnham to end Labour’s oil and gas drilling ban as BP says it’s selling up in the North Sea
Kemi Badenoch has called on Andy Burnham to oppose Labour’s ban on new oil and gas drilling after BP reportedly decided to sell its North Sea assets. The intervention highlights a wider political dispute over energy security, jobs and the speed of the UK’s transition away from fossil fuels.
BP’s reported move would add pressure to concerns about investment and employment in the North Sea oil and gas sector. Badenoch argues that ending the ban would support domestic energy production, while Labour’s policy is intended to limit new fossil-fuel extraction as part of its climate agenda.
In short
- Badenoch urges Labour to end its new-drilling ban.
- BP reportedly plans to sell North Sea assets.
- Debate centres on energy, jobs and climate policy.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Supporters of ending the ban argue that domestic oil and gas production remains important while the UK still relies substantially on these fuels. They contend that permitting carefully regulated new projects could protect skilled North Sea jobs, sustain supply chains and reduce dependence on imported energy, whose production may carry higher emissions or geopolitical risks. From this perspective, a managed transition should preserve investment and energy resilience rather than abruptly deter an industry that will remain necessary for some time.
The case against
Supporters of maintaining the ban argue that approving new fields would lock the UK into further fossil-fuel dependence when it needs to cut emissions and accelerate investment in cleaner energy. They say new North Sea developments are unlikely to deliver a quick or decisive reduction in household bills, while public policy should give businesses clarity that future growth lies in renewables, grid infrastructure and low-carbon jobs. From this perspective, helping affected workers transition is more durable than seeking to prolong extraction in a declining basin.
Explained simply
The North Sea has been a major source of oil and gas for the UK, supporting jobs and supplying fuel for decades. Many of its fields are mature, so production has declined and companies weigh the cost of developing new sites against expected returns.
Labour has said it will not issue licences for new oil and gas exploration, while allowing existing fields to continue operating. The policy is part of its plan to reduce emissions, though oil and gas are still used in the UK and the country also imports energy.
Kemi Badenoch leads the Conservative Party, and Andy Burnham is the Labour mayor of Greater Manchester. Disagreement over the policy reflects competing concerns about domestic supply and jobs, and about cutting greenhouse-gas emissions.
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