Trump officials warn against Miliband as chancellor
High-ranking members of the Trump administration have reportedly warned that it would be a “mistake” for Andy Burnham to appoint Ed Miliband as chancellor, reports BritPanorama. Senior officials of the US president’s team have communicated concerns about Mr. Miliband’s record on the North Sea and wind turbines to their counterparts and other senior Labour figures, an issue that has created friction between Donald Trump and Sir Keir Starmer.
While Mr. Burnham has stated he has not made any decisions regarding his chancellor appointment, Mr. Miliband is noted as one of the contenders and is a longstanding ally of the Makerfield MP. Burnham is expected to enter No 10 on 20 July, with an announcement regarding the chancellorship anticipated before then.
Trump officials believe Mr. Miliband’s opposition to new oil and gas drilling licences in the North Sea is “ideologically driven.” They argue that tax revenues from lifting such restrictions could support increased defence spending. This echoes Trump’s critical stance on Miliband’s energy policy, which the US president has condemned both publicly and privately, advocating for Britain to “get rid of the windmills and bring back the oil.”
Historically, Sir Keir and Mr. Trump have often disagreed on energy matters. In their first call, Trump claimed foxes had become too fat as a result of eating birds killed by wind turbines. Former No 10 chief of staff Morgan McSweeney recalled the conversation, noting Trump’s insistence that “Britain’s a beautiful country, but you have too many windmills.”
The North Sea is poised to remain a contentious issue as Mr. Burnham assumes office later this month. At the end of June, Trump described Burnham as “extremely liberal,” which further complicates relations given his strong opinions on energy production. When asked at the White House what he knew about Burnham, Trump remarked on his liberal stance, suggesting it would hinder any decision to exploit North Sea resources.
Trump urged Starmer to consider reopening the North Sea, referring to Aberdeen as the “hottest city on the continent” and lamented the closure of oil drilling that historically benefited the region. “It was the oil city of Europe, and they closed everything. It was terrible,” he stated, claiming the North Sea remains “loaded” with potential resources that could be beneficial for the UK economy.
Despite the pressure and discussions surrounding the issue, Mr. Burnham recently indicated an “open-minded” approach towards reopening the North Sea to drilling. He expressed that he does not hold a “fixed position” on the matter.
The dynamics between Trump, Burnham, and Miliband highlight the complex interplay of domestic policy and international relations, underscoring the potential implications for the UK’s energy strategy as the country navigates its economic future.
