Miatta Fahnbulleh has been described as a “radical economist” who is outspoken about the climate crisis. Will she put an end to North Sea debates?
Concerns that the UK will U-turn on its pledge to phase out North Sea drilling have resurfaced, following the appointment of Prime Minister Andy Burnham.
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Last year, under Keir Starmer’s government, the UK Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) ended exploration licensing in the North Sea.
This means that drilling companies cannot get permission to search for new oil and gas reserves in previously untapped areas, but doesn’t prohibit existing projects.
Will Andy Burnham approve new drilling in the North Sea?
Before Burnham had even been inaugurated, reports claimed he was preparing to announce plans for new oil and gas drilling.
Much of the speculation revolves around two major oil and gas fields off the coast of Scotland (Rose bank and Jackdaw) which were approved for drilling in 2022 and 2023 under the previous Conservative government, but were overturned in 2025 after a legal challenge.
Earlier this week, Donald Trump took to his social media platform Truth Social to say he had discussed North Sea Oil with Burnham. The POTUS has consistently criticised the UK’s ban on new exploration licences, previously urging Starmer to “drill baby, drill.”
However, Lucy Powell, Labour’s deputy leader, quelled environmentalists’ concerns by confirming that 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, continue to contribute to that energy mix, but 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 as well,” she said.
Tiebacks refer to production in areas which are close to existing sites. Reports suggest that tieback arrangements would allow new drilling to take place without technically breaking the manifesto.
However, following a major cabinet reshuffle, it looks like the North Sea’s future now lies in the hands of the UK’s latest energy secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh.
Who is Miatta Fahnbulleh?
Described by British newspaper The Guardian as a “radical economist” who is “outspoken about the climate crisis”, Fahnbulleh was elected as the MP for the London district of Peckham in July 2024.
She studied philosophy, politics and economics at the University of Oxford and obtained a PhD degree in economic development from the London School of Economics.
From 2017 to 2023, Fahnbulleh was the Chief Executive of policy think-tank New Economics Foundation, which has previously called for a total end to new drilling in the basin.
The firm also coined the phrase “Green new deal” for a slew of policies aimed to tackle the 2008 financial crisis, climate degradation and rising energy bills.
Sources close to Fahnbulleh tell the Guardian that she has the necessary skills and intellect to challenge the myth that drilling for more fossil fuels will bring the UK energy independence and lower people’s energy bills.
She is already facing pressure from environmental organisations to “hold the line against harmful fossil fuel expansion”.
Euronews Earth asked DESNZ if there are plans to allow new drilling licenses, and whether tiebacks will be used to get around Labour's manifesto.
A government spokesperson did not explicitly answer the question, stating: "The North Sea remains a vital national asset, supporting jobs, growth and the UK's energy security.
"We are clear that oil and gas will continue to play an important role in our energy system for decades to come, alongside renewables, nuclear and other low-carbon technologies. Our focus is on providing stability and ensuring the North Sea continues to make a strong contribution to the UK's economy and energy security."
Will drilling the North Sea lower energy bills?
Much of the support for drilling the North Sea is due to the misconception that it will lower energy bills amid the surging costs of oil and gas.
A 2026 analysis from the University of Oxford found that a UK fully-powered by renewables could save households up to £441 (approximately €517) a year on their energy bills.
However, researchers warned that maximising oil and gas extraction from the North Sea would only create household savings of £16 (€19) to £82 (€95) per year – adding that this would rely on tax revenues being distributed to households to offset their bills.
Dr Anupam Sen, the study’s co-author, said that the argument for draining the North Sea to make the UK more energy secure and slash energy bills is “sheer fantasy”.
“We show that regardless of the remaining lifetime of North Sea oil and gas, a ‘drill baby drill’ approach to extraction would actually cost households more money versus continuing on our path to clean energy.”
For renewables to create meaningful savings, co-author Cassandra Etter-Wenzel said “upfront investment” would be needed to help electrify a household – such as purchasing and installing a heat pump.
The analysis uses oil and gas prices as of January 2026, prior to fluctuations caused by the Iran war. Researchers say these are representative of realistic medium-to-long-term prices.
Researchers added that savings gained from clean energy will recur annually indefinitely, whereas North Sea oil and gas are finite resources – with experts warning that they risk becoming depleted by around 2040.
Multiple experts have also pointed out that oil and gas prices are set by global markets, not discounted for British consumers – and gas extracted from UK waters can be exported to the highest bidder – meaning increasing domestic production won’t significantly lower costs.
