Burnham risks first revolt as PM over apparent support for North Sea drilling

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Andy Burnham was told he could face the first revolt of his premiership as Labour MPs and climate experts condemned his apparent support for renewed drilling for oil and gas. As the UK suffers through drought, fires and heatwaves, the prime minister gave the strongest indication yet on Friday he was minded to allow new drilling. His comments came just hours before the UN secretary-general warned “every new fossil fuel project” made heatwaves more dangerous. Speaking at a community centre in Sheffield on Friday, Burnham repeated he would be “pragmatic” about oil and gas and that decisions on new drilling would be made “in due course”. But he added: “The…

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