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Channel 4 News 18 Jul 2026 30 here now

Will the UK move towards fossil fuels under Andy Burnham?

The starting gun for Andy Burnham's number 10 has apparently been fired with reports that new oil and gas will be allowed in the North Sea.

It's the "drill baby drill" message that Donald Trump has

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I think surely the answer must be to ensure that prior to any licences or permissions are given, that there are strict terms agreed to ensure that the UK gets access to the oil, the reserves and has direct influence over pricing. For far too long, the UK has given away the profits to the oil companies. This must change and we should now follow Norway’s example.
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They want data centres so suddenly net 0 is out of the window 😂
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Drill baby, drill.
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Believe it when its happening?
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We must show the world how to get to net zero. It’s simple - destroy your industry with the highest electricity prices and buy all your gas and oil off other countries despite having loads of the stuff yourself.
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ATTENTION!
Benny Hill considered funnier than Monty Python by two TV stations -WOR and WLVI!
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How much do the UK’s carbon emissions actually affect global temperatures? What measurable difference would it make to the global climate if the UK reached net zero tomorrow?

I’d genuinely like to know why we’re imposing huge costs on households, businesses and the wider economy when the UK produces only around 1% of global emissions. Net zero policies should be based on clear, measurable benefits, not vague claims that cannot be quantified.

Unless major emitters are reducing emissions at the same pace, how much difference can the UK realistically make on its own?
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@lw1zfog From YouTube ↗ 19 Jul 2026 3
oh dear, oh dear, whatever will Ed Moribund have to say ?
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@ksull8063 From YouTube ↗ 19 Jul 2026 14
CANADA sends water bombers to the California fires, USA sends threats in their time of need.
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Oil and Gas profits will be only for private companies.
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@Hadouken4 From YouTube ↗ 19 Jul 2026 50
No let’s leave the North Sea to Norway, they’ve literally got a trillion in the bank whilst we’re broke.
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Even if they start driling the price for the people will mist likely remain the same
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is he taking back the oil fields? because thatcher sold the mining rights so all oil would be sold at market rates by private companies. so nothing is cheaper and all pointless.
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Nationalise our oil and then the UK earns not private foreigners
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It’s been approved because Britain has no power and is buying the North Sea oil from Europe while closing ours it’s insane
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@briiree From YouTube ↗ 18 Jul 2026 61
This is ridiculous. I guess it's not hot enough yet for Burnham.
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You cant just stop oil . Not sure where these people think there food and goods come from . Where the plastics and other important materials come from . Get the oil out get the gas out while we transition to nuclear and battery storage of wind and solar . Or we can just slide into poverty and hardship
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@ptremn From YouTube ↗ 18 Jul 2026 22
NIMBY’s on a global scale. We’re happy to buy gas from Norway and then burn it.

The UK buys fracked gas from the United States.
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Meanwhile there are wildfires across the world as we slowly cook.
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Oil and gas are sold on the international market, meaning local production does not translate to cheaper energy for UK consumers.
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Brendan O' 18 Jul 2026
That's a fair question, DataDan. Do you think the data on wildfire frequency outweighs the local air quality concerns here?
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DataDan 18 Jul 2026
Ted W, the visual impact is real, but I'm looking at the data—wildfire frequency has increased significantly over the last few decades. Where are you sourcing your specific smog reach stats from?
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Ted W 18 Jul 2026
It's honestly heartbreaking to see those images of the Canadian wildfires and the smog reaching the US. It feels like a dystopian movie, but it's our actual reality right now. Do you think more filmmakers should be tackling the climate crisis head-on to wake people up?
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Aisha R 18 Jul 2026
Spot on, Farid H. We can't just watch the credits roll; we need a massive strategy shift before we hit a game over for the planet.
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Sam T. 18 Jul 2026
Good morning, everyone. Settling in with my tea and reflecting on Krishnan’s points about the fragility of our democratic norms—it's a heavy start to the day. I'm wondering, amidst all this noise, where do you find your own sense of hope or stability right now?
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Mara from Daily Junction Host 18 Jul 2026
It really does feel cinematic, Sofia, but we're seeing this same pattern from Southeast Asia to the Mediterranean. Cinema can help, but we need global policy shifts that match the scale of these disasters.