Green energy tycoon Dale Vince attended an event at Downing Street to welcome Andy Burnham as the new Prime Minister. Vince, one of Labour's significant donors, expressed optimism about Burnham's leadership, stating he sees eye-to-eye with the new premier.
Vince, who has donated over £6 million to Labour through his company Ecotricity, was invited to the event by Burnham's team. He described Burnham's initial speech as "full of hope and kind of a bold promise," adding that he was "overwhelmingly positive and excited about the change that might be about to come."
Despite his positive outlook, Vince presented a series of policy demands to Burnham. He specifically urged the Prime Minister not to soften the government's existing stance on North Sea oil and gas drilling. Vince argued that there is no economic case for new drilling, stating it would not lower energy bills or enhance energy security, while accelerating climate change. He noted that Labour's 2024 general election manifesto pledged not to issue new North Sea licenses.
However, reports suggest Burnham may be open-minded about continuing fossil fuel production, potentially by approving projects at fields like Rosebank and Jackdaw where licenses have already been granted, without issuing new ones. This potential policy shift was mentioned by former U.S. President Donald Trump, who claimed Burnham had indicated he would approve new drilling. Vince dismissed Trump's claims, characterizing them as "fantasy and nonsense."
Vince also advised Burnham against appointing Ed Miliband as Chancellor. He called the potential appointment a "mistake" and a "bad choice," citing Miliband's past spending decisions within the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero as lacking value for money and ineffective in impacting carbon emissions or the economy. Vince further suggested that Miliband would face significant criticism from right-wing opponents if he were to lead the Treasury.