CLIMATE experts have reacted to Andy Burnham's pledge to take a "pragmatic" approach to drilling in the North Sea.
The Prime Minister told US president Donald Trump that "we can't ignore" the resources in the North Sea during a phone call on his first day in office.
Speaking on Thursday, Burnham told reporters: “I indicated in the phone call that we had a week last Monday that I would take a pragmatic approach when it comes to the North Sea, and that is my intention as we go forward from here.
“There is a resource there. When people are struggling, we can’t ignore that. Hence, me indicating that to the president.”
Climate experts have responded to Burnham, warning that the new Prime Minister is "deep in denial" about the reality of the climate crisis.
Stephen Barlow, a naturalist and conservationist, said "there is clearly some very distorted thinking in Andy Burnham's head, and he needs to be urgently briefed by leading experts in the climate and ecological crisis".
"It is very clear that Burnham is getting briefed by economists, totally ignorant of the reality of the climate crisis," he said.
Barlow went on: "This is an actual emergency. Europe is ablaze amidst the most intense heatwave ever and Burnham has never or barely mentioned it or climate change.
"If Burnham thinks people are struggling now, wait until there is climate related food hyperinflation. What will he claim, that no one warned him? They did."
Barlow said the Prime Minister "seems to be living in a mental bubble where society and the economy are somehow disconnected from the climate and ecological crisis".
He added: "It really is disturbing. This is very clear and extreme compartmentalisation, of a very irrational, dangerous and reckless kind.
"Burnham might think he can ignore it, but if food prices rocket, not only will he have a real crisis on his hands, but he is going to look mighty stupid.
"Burnham is anything but pragmatic, he is very confused."
The conservationist added: "Has Burnham being living such a cloistered life, that he has not heard any of the experts explaining why increasing oil and gas extraction in the North Sea, will do nothing for UK consumers?"
Elsewhere, a group of leading climate scientists who created Greater Manchester's commitment to go carbon neutral by 2038 have urged Burnham to unequivocally reject new North Sea drilling.
In a letter to Burnham earlier this week, reported by The Guardian, Professor Kevin Anderson and scientists from the Tyndall Centre at Manchester University's School of Engineering warned Burnham that the reports "represent a profound departure from the principles you promoted as mayor of Greater Manchester".
They wrote: "Future generations will not judge governments by the ingenuity with which they justified expanding fossil fuel production.
"They will judge whether, when faced with unequivocal scientific evidence and clear international commitments, they had the courage and compassion to act in a manner consistent with the obligations they had freely entered into."
Labour’s 2024 General Election manifesto said the party would not issue new North Sea licences, but Burnham has appeared to leave the door open to a change in policy.
Ed Miliband, who held the energy and net zero brief under Keir Starmer and was a strong supporter of the election pledge, has now taken the Foreign Secretary role.
His successor as Energy Secretary, Miatta Fahnbulleh, has said the manifesto was clear there is scope to exploit existing licences and that oil and gas are “part of the mix” – but would not be drawn on whether there are plans to go further.
