Donald Trump Is Convinced 'Terrific' Andy Burnham Will Save 'Bankrupt' Britain

Donald Trump has described the UK as a “bankrupt country” while heaping praise on Andy Burnham.

The US president said he believes he and Burnham are “going to have a very good relationship” during a press conference on Monday.

Trump – who is a keen advocate of drilling for fossil fuels – also claimed the new prime minister “sounded terrific” when they discussed the future of oil and gas exploration in the North Sea.

He claimed: “When you look at the UK, they have one of the best energy fields in the world, the North Sea.

“I think your new prime minister is actually going to open up from what I hear.

“I spoke to him and he sounded terrific on this subject.

“You open it up and you’ll be a wealthy country. You keep it closed and you’ll be a bankrupt country, which is what you are now.”

He continued: “You have one of the greatest energy fields in the North Sea.

“The UK buys its energy from Norway, who gets its energy from the North Sea, not as vibrant a part of the North Sea.

“You’re sitting on top of gold, better than gold and you don’t do anything with it, you don’t allow the oil companies in.”

He said that during his conversation with Burnham, he had emphasised “not every country has that choice” to use their natural resources.

He also claimed Aberdeen was the oil capital of Europe until the “liberals got in and destroyed it”.

After Trump triggered speculation that the UK could issue more licences to start drilling in the North Sea last week, Burnham said he would “take a pragmatic approach” to the contentious issue.

“There is a resource there. When people are struggling, we can’t ignore that. Hence, me indicating that to the president,” he said.

Burnham has promised to abide by the 2024 Labour manifesto which promises not to issue any more oil and gas licences for drilling in the North Sea.

However, the PM could find a workaround by expanding the existing licences’ scope for drilling.

Trump keeps mentioning the highly divisive issue while Europe is feeling the effects of climate change with successive heat waves this summer.

Drilling for more fossil fuels which will then be burnt is the leading cause of climate change so choosing to drill more is likely to be deeply divisive.

Keir Starmer fell out with Trump after not backing the US war against Iran – which has caused major disruption to the global energy market by squeezing oil supplies – and refusing to expand North Sea drilling.

Starmer was supported by his energy secretary, keen environmentalist Ed Miliband, in refusing to drill more in the North Sea.

However, Burnham has moved Miliband into the foreign secretary role, suggesting the PM could be taking a more lenient approach to drilling.

Trump also used his press conference to take aim at immigration after 60,000 people rushed into the Spanish exclave of Ceuta last week. 

He said: “You’ve got to stop illegal immigration in Europe, I know Europe better than anyone, even the people who run it. I’ve got great relationships with Europe. Two things are killing Europe, number one is immigration, number two is energy.”

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