GB News presenters Ellie Costello and Alex Armstrong addressed Andy Burnham’s appointment as Prime Minister during Monday’s edition. But in a huge blow to the Makerfield MP, Donald Trump’s recent announcement could signal a major issue for the US president.
It comes after Trump weighed in on rumoured plans for controversial new drilling in the North Sea, claiming Burnham will open oil fields “all the way”. In an intervention hours before the new prime minister enters Downing Street, the US president – a vocal supporter of fossil fuels, said the move would prevent Britain from becoming a “poverty stricken disaster”.
Political Editor of Huffpost UK Kevin Schofield addressed Trump praising Burnham for signalling that he will approve more drilling in the North Sea but suggested the president had “jumped the gun”.
Mr Schofield suggested Burnham is currently on a “collision course” with Trump.
“Trump has rather jumped the gun with his post on Truth Social basically Andy Burnham is going to open up the North Sea,” he explained. “They will be dancing on the streets of Aberdeen because he is very different from Keir Starmer.”
Mr Schofield said: “I don’t know where Trump has got his information from. There might be drilling of existing areas being explored but there won’t be new licences.
When that reality dawns on Donald Trump he won’t be slow to make his unhappiness felt.”
He added that Burnham plans to stick with the Labour manifesto, but concluded, “How can you be for change but also sticking to touchstone points of your predecessor”.
Mr Burnham previously insisted he would stick to Labour’s manifesto pledge not to issue new North Sea licences. But he has also refused to deny reports that he is considering approving new production.
