Senior aides to former U.S. President Donald Trump have indicated that they view a potential appointment of Ed Miliband as the United Kingdom's chancellor as a "mistake," according to reports. The concerns, shared with Labour figures and British officials, reportedly center on Miliband's opposition to new oil and gas drilling in the North Sea.
These U.S. officials are understood to believe that Miliband's environmental policies, particularly the ban on new North Sea drilling licenses, are "ideologically driven." They reportedly suggest that revenue generated from lifting such restrictions could be allocated to defense spending. A government source told The Times that "The Trump administration has made clear that they have concerns about him becoming chancellor, particularly over North Sea oil and his environmental agenda." A U.S. official confirmed these concerns had been raised.
Andy Burnham, who is expected to enter Number 10 on July 20, has stated that a decision on the chancellor appointment has not yet been made, though Miliband is considered the leading contender. Burnham and Miliband, who previously served together in a Labour cabinet, are described as long-term political allies. Other potential candidates for the role include Wes Streeting, Pat McFadden, Yvette Cooper, and Shabana Mahmood.
Trump himself has previously voiced criticism of Labour's Net Zero strategy, questioning the UK's refusal to expand North Sea oil and gas extraction while Europe faces energy shortages. In April, he urged Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Energy Secretary Miliband to adopt an approach similar to his "drill, baby, drill" mantra, calling their reluctance "absolutely crazy." Trump has also critiqued Britain's renewable energy efforts, describing them as "tragic" and opposing the construction of wind turbines.
Burnham has previously expressed openness to new North Sea drilling, a position supported by a segment of Labour MPs and some trade unions. The potential working relationship between Trump and Burnham remains a subject of speculation, especially given past remarks. Trump recently described Burnham as the "mayor of a town" and "extremely liberal," suggesting this might preclude him from opening up the North Sea.
Burnham has a history of critical comments regarding Trump. During Trump's first term, Burnham stated he would not meet with him during a 2017 state visit, accusing him of sharing "hateful extremist material" online and calling for the visit's cancellation. Following the January 6 U.S. Capitol riots in 2021, Burnham suggested that any British politician who had engaged with Trump should be "ashamed." He has also characterized U.S. politics as "polarized" and "poisonous."