Andy Burnham hates making unpopular decisions. He’s just put another one off.
Andy Burnham has put off another big decision. It’s becoming a habit (Image: Getty)
Our new PM has just shown us something else. Given the choice, he will prioritise the Labour Party’s needs over the country. He’s willing to risk millions of Britons feeling colder and poorer this winter, just to gain a political edge. We’re heading towards a winter energy crisis, as oil prices rocket thanks to the Iran war and gas storage levels plummet. That doesn’t seem to bother Burnham. All he cares about is the upcoming Holborn and St Pancras by-election. That means more to him than pensioners freezing at home this winter.
Andy Burnham was expected to approve the Jackdaw gas field in the North Sea. Now he appears to have postponed that decision until after the October 8 by-election, triggered by Sir Keir Starmer’s recent resignation. Labour faces a serious challenge from the Green Party, with leader Zack Polanski contesting the Holborn and St Pancras seat in a bid to become an MP. Burnham fears that announcing new oil and gas drilling will trigger fury among eco-activists and secure victory for the Greens.
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But Jackdaw is a big decision. It should be based on the national interest, not short-term party politics. Britain needs all the reliable gas it can get to see us through a tough winter. Hanging on for another month is the last thing we need to do. The Tories have already accused him of chickening out of this decision once. Now’s it looks like he’s doing it agian.
This is becoming a nasty habit. Vital defence spending decisions have been shoved into 2027. Welfare reform has also been kicked into the long grass. Burnham is dithering over home secretary Shabana Mahmood’s immigration clampdown. And now the energy crisis is on the backburner too.
Jackdaw is backed by Shell and Equinor and had previously secured regulatory consent. Further consent is required following legal challenges and changes to the project, and foot dragging from former energy secretary Ed Miliband.
The field could provide enough gas to heat the equivalent of 1.4 million UK homes and around 6% of projected UK North Sea gas production. It won’t magically slash everyone’s energy bills or solve Britain’s energy problems on its own. But it will help.
Britain is heavily dependent on imported gas and has very little storage capacity. Burnham has bottled a decision on that too. Every extra source of domestic supply matters when global supplies are this tight.
Shell and Equinor have already invested heavily in Jackdaw and say the platform is installed. Subject to consent, the developers claim it could supply British homes and businesses within weeks. Precisely at the moment we need it. Delaying the decision for political convenience is therefore an extraordinary gamble.
Burnham appears to be running scared. Zack Polanski has made North Sea drilling a central by-election issue. Burnham previously indicated he would drill. Now he’s keeping his head down.
If you were wondering why Ed Miliband chose this week to announce further sanctions on Israel, it’s for the same reason. To head off the threat from the Greens, a happy home for hard-left activists, virtue-signalling hipsters and Israel-hating Islamists.
Now this ragtag of ranters is indirectly running Labour Party policy too. Under Starmer, Labour lost the Muslim vote over Gaza. Now they’ll do and say anything to get it back.
It’s grubby politics. And pathetic energy and foreign policy. Get used to it. This is life under Burnham. We may all pay the price when the temperature drops and the heating bills land this winter.
GB News turns tense in explosive migrant clash: ‘Be quiet!’
Presenter Ben Leo fired back at political commentator Matthew Stadlen.
Ben Leo fired back at Matthew Stadlen after he attempted to interrupt him (Image: GB News)
GB News took a tense turn on Sunday (13 September) as presenter Ben Leo clashed with political commentator Matthew Stadlen live on air. Appearing on the programme to discuss the impact of the French deal on the small boats crisis, the duo also reflected on ex-Chancellor George Osborne‘s calls for the UK to rejoin the customs union.
“I suspect that if we were to rejoin the customs union, it would help us economically,” Matthew began. “There’s no doubt that Brexit has harmed us economically – [but] that doesn’t mean I think we should have another referendum.”
“Anyway, despite the anti-Britishness being peddled by your guest Thomas there, we have over the first two quarters, over the first half of this year, the highest growth – it’s not massive growth – but the highest growth in the G7 and that, of course, includes the United States of America,” he continued.
“I’m also astonished to hear from you, Ben, that you think France should be treated as a hostile state,” Matthew noted, firing at the GB News host.
“What would that involve? Does that mean we would get banned from going to France on our summer holidays? How far do you take this?”
“Absolutely,” Ben replied. “There is nothing more serious than what is going on with the small boats crisis,” he declared, before Matthew attempted to cut in, talking over the journalist.
“Hang on, I’m talking now,” Ben snapped back, raising his voice. “You just had a monologue, so be quiet! The national security, there have been thousands of men – we don’t know who they are or where they’re from, what their intentions are – breaking into Britain.
“That should be the number-one national security issue for this nation. If that means severing ties with France politically and economically, I say do it.”
Former Chancellor George Osborne is calling for the UK to rejoin the customs union (Image: Getty)
Following the fiery debate, viewers were quick to respond on X. “@Benleo, that’s the problem with the left, they think they only have the right to speak, and everyone else has to shut up. Sorry @MatthewStadlen, it ain’t happening,” wrote one. “Well done, Ben. Why does GB News have that nasty person on?” added a second.
Among the comments, however, others questioned the journalist’s stance on cutting ties with France. “So there you have it, straight out of Ben Leo’s mouth. We should ban people from going on holiday to France and sever economic ties with France. Has Leo gone completely crazy?” tweeted a third. “Has Ben Leo taken leave of his senses?” quipped a fourth.