PRESIDENT Donald Trump tonight urged Andy Burnham to go “full blast” on North Sea drilling.
It comes after the PM said he had taken the “pragmatic” decision to , which had been sat on by the Government for months.
Red Wall Labour MPs welcomed the “common-sense choice” and demanded also double down on oil extraction to shore up Britain’s supply.
But it sparked a row with climate campaigners and risks a left-wing backbench revolt if Mr Burnham backs more fossil fuel projects.
The US president — a long-time advocate of — praised the PM for approving Jackdaw. He said: “They should go full blast! This will make the UK very wealthy again.”
Labour MP told The Sun: “It is the common-sense choice.
“We should use the resources we have, rather than relying on imports.
“The Rosebank oil field development should now be approved without hesitation.”
Like Jackdaw, Rosebank has also been subject to ministerial dithering following a legal campaign by eco activists.
The decision on whether to approve it rests with Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh, a close ally of her predecessor .
Tory leader is urging ministers to repeal the ban on new drilling licences.
She said: “We have the resources, expertise and people. What we have lost is the confidence to make tough decisions.”
'Approving Jackdaw was a common sense choice'
By Henry Tufnell, Labour MP
BRITISH industry has powered this country for generations. As the party of working people, this Labour Government must have its back.
The Government was right to approve the Jackdaw gas project. It will safeguard hundreds of well-paid, unionised jobs in Aberdeen, support 1,000 more across the supply chain, and generate billions for our economy.
It is the common-sense choice. We should use the resources we have, rather than relying on imports. The Rosebank oil field development should now be approved without hesitation.
But we must go further in backing British industry. High carbon costs and industrial electricity prices are undermining our competitiveness and driving industrial decline.
This is existential for communities like mine in Pembrokeshire.
Since the 1970s, we have gone from four oil refineries to one. Pembroke Refinery still supports 1,000 jobs, supplies 14% of the UK’s transport fuel, and accounts for 15% to Welsh export GDP. Yet its future is under threat.
Recent geopolitical uncertainty and disruptions to global supply chains have shown that these issues extend far beyond our industrial communities. A strong domestic energy sector and industrial base are critical to Britain’s economic resilience and national security.
If we are serious about reindustrialisation and energy security, protecting and strengthening existing industries must be a priority.
This means supporting North Sea oil and gas licenses, and cutting carbon taxes to ensure British industry and its workers can thrive.
