The UK’s energy policy has taken an uncertain turn with the appointment of Miatta Fahnbulleh as energy secretary, a move that has reignited debate over the future of North Sea drilling. Fahnbulleh, the newly elected MP for Peckham, was described by The Guardian as a “radical economist” who is “outspoken about the climate crisis”. Before entering parliament, she served as chief executive of the New Economics Foundation – a think-tank that has called for a total end to new drilling in the North Sea and coined the phrase “Green new deal”.
Her appointment comes just weeks after Andy Burnham became prime minister, replacing Keir Starmer. Before Burnham had even been inaugurated, reports claimed he was preparing to announce plans for new oil and gas drilling. The speculation centres on two major fields off the coast of Scotland – Rosebank and Jackdaw – which were approved under the previous Conservative government in 2022 and 2023, but overturned in 2025 after a legal challenge.
“Miatta Fahnbulleh appointed energy secretary as Burnham faces pressure over North Sea drilling pledge.”
Last year, under Starmer’s government, the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero ended exploration licensing in the North Sea. That ban prevents companies from searching for new reserves in untapped areas, but does not prohibit existing projects. However, reports suggest that so-called “tieback” arrangements – drilling in areas close to existing sites – could allow new extraction without technically breaking the manifesto.
Donald Trump has waded into the debate. The US president took to his Truth Social platform to say he had discussed North Sea oil with Burnham, and has consistently criticised the UK’s ban on new exploration licences, previously urging Starmer to “drill baby, drill”.
Labour’s deputy leader, Lucy Powell, sought to calm environmentalists by insisting Burnham will stick to the party’s manifesto. “We’ve been clear with tiebacks and other measures that we want to see North Sea gas and oil continue to thrive,” she said. But she added that the government is “resolute in our mission that energy security and lower bills will only come by us not continuing to rely on fossil fuels but building the cheaper, renewable energy of the future”.
Fahnbulleh’s background suggests she may push for a more aggressive shift away from fossil fuels. She studied philosophy, politics and economics at Oxford and holds a PhD in economic development from the London School of Economics. The question now is whether her radical stance will override the political pressure to keep drilling – and whether Burnham’s promises of stability will survive the clash.