Donald Trump demands ‘open North Sea oil’ as he says Sir Keir Starmer ‘failed badly’

US President Donald Trump claims Sir Keir Starmer has “failed badly” on energy by refusing to grant new oil and gas drilling licenses.

The Republican leader took a swipe at the prime minister as speculation mounts he will quit as Labour leader on Monday.

Mr Trump demanded the UK Government “open North Sea oil” this afternoon as he made his stance clear on social media.

Sir Keir’s Labour government has repeatedly ignored calls from the energy sector in the north-east to reverse a ban on new oil and gas exploration.

The prime minister’s administration has also angered the industry by refusing to scrap the controversial windfall tax first introduced four years ago.

Mr Trump has repeatedly voiced his strong support for further oil drilling.

He has also talked up Aberdeen’s importance to the sector globally.

The Aberdeen South by-election – won comfortably by the Tories – was seen as a local referendum on the future of oil and gas.

New MP Douglas Lumsden is strongly in favour of granting new North Sea licenses.

President’s oil plea

Posting on TruthSocial, Mr Trump said: “Keir Starmer will resign as prime minister of the United Kingdom.

“He failed badly on two very important subjects – immigration and energy (open North Sea oil!).

“I wish him well!”

Various media outlets have reported that Sir Keir may announce he is stepping down on Monday.

It comes after Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham’s resounding success in the Makerfield by-election.

He is the current favourite to replace Sir Keir if he quits the top job.

Former defence minister and Royal Marines veteran Al Carns, from Aberdeen, has also been touted as a possible contender for the role.

Pressure has been mounting on Sir Keir for months due to his unpopularity and poor polling for Labour.

Holyrood leader Anas Sarwar called for him to quit in advance of the Scottish Parliament election.

[Source: Press and Journal]