UK's Burnham to announce new North Sea oil and gas drilling plans

The debate over North Sea oil and gas has become a divisive issue within the Labour Party. Some Members of Parliament advocate for a more liberal energy policy to protect jobs and manage energy costs, while others emphasize the importance of renewable energy for security and climate change mitigation.

Ed Miliband, the current Energy Secretary and a likely senior cabinet appointee under Burnham, has previously been a strong proponent of the party's manifesto stance, having described the license for the Rosebank oil field as 'climate vandalism'.

Earlier this week, the oil and gas industry and trade unions jointly wrote to Burnham and other Labour MPs, urging them to support North Sea oil and gas production, framing it as a commitment to the nation's industrial base and workforce.

Burnham, who recently returned to Parliament via a by-election, is the sole leadership candidate and has secured backing from 379 Labour MPs and all 11 affiliated trade unions. He is currently finalizing his top cabinet appointments.