The controversial Shell-operated Jackdaw gas field could be given the green light within weeks. Donald Trump claimed on Wednesday that Andy Burnham had personally promised him he would expand drilling in the North Sea. “The new gentleman, when I spoke to him, he said he’s going to open up the North Sea,” Trump said. Although privately funded, the UK controls a large section of the North Sea, giving it a legal right to approve and tax oil and gas production. Trump has needled successive prime ministers over the issue and repeatedly urged Sir Keir Starmer to approve North Sea drilling, saying on Wednesday: “I could not get Starmer to use it.