Burnham's Budget week: Rosebank oil decision, Brexit comments and energy policy tensions
In the week of the Budget, Prime Minister Andy Burnham faces decisions on the Rosebank oilfield, Brexit and freedom of movement, and energy bills. The Daily Express mocks Ed Miliband and the government's style, while the BBC's Chris Mason sets out the trade-offs.
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The story, neutrally told
Centre · 1Andy Burnham's government faces a Budget on Wednesday, 100 days after Burnham became prime minister, with several politically difficult decisions pending alongside it. BBC NewsN “It is now 100 days since Andy Burnham arrived in Downing Street from Buckingham Palace and began to assemble his cabinet.”“will be themes for Healey on Wednesday.” Read at BBC News ↗ Centre · 1The BBC's Chris Mason describes this year's Budget, delivered by new chancellor John Healey, as comparatively low key: it comes a month earlier than last year, involves smaller tax rises, and Healey's team have said little beforehand. Mason says those involved insist it is still a big deal, with themes of cost of living support, help for entrepreneurs and more financial clout for English mayors. BBC NewsN “it is happening a month earlier than a year ago, squeezing the space available for briefings, leaks and speculation.”“Cost of living support for some, help for entrepreneurs, more financial clout for mayors in England and an economy now recuperating will be themes for Healey on Wednesday.” Read at BBC News ↗ Right · 1Weekend newspapers suggested Burnham may approve the Rosebank oilfield, which the Daily Express's Aaron Newbury says Ed Miliband, then energy secretary, once branded "climate vandalism"; the Express piece now calls Miliband Foreign Secretary. Daily ExpressR “The weekend papers suggest he may press ahead with the Rosebank oilfield.”“Now that's the wicked project his Foreign Secretary once branded “climate vandalism” when he was in his eco-phase as energy secretary.” Read at Daily Express ↗
Centre · 1Mason reports that Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh approved drilling at the Jackdaw gas field last week, citing energy security and a planned "energy wealth fund" for clean energy projects, but called Rosebank "a different proposition". BBC NewsN “Last week, Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh approved drilling in the Jackdaw field in the North Sea, about 150 miles east of Aberdeen.”“Fahnbulleh said that Rosebank was "a different proposition" to Jackdaw.” Read at BBC News ↗ Centre · 1According to Mason, Labour figures acknowledge Rosebank is a much harder sell within the party, some supporters fear the energy secretary will not be convinced, and allies of the chancellor have made it known that Healey favours it; approval could raise the question of ministerial resignations. BBC NewsN “It is in that context that we should see allies of the chancellor pointedly making it known that he is in favour of it.”“which could, if it was approved, raise the question of ministerial resignations.” Read at BBC News ↗ Right · 1The Express columnist backs drilling for oil as "a sound decision" but argues it is being made on "vibes", and says a plan to scrap standing charges on gas bills was announced first, with the Chancellor and Energy Secretary sent to find the money afterwards. Daily ExpressR “drilling for oil is a sound decision on any day of the week.”“Planning to scrap standing charges on gas bills? Announced first, with the Chancellor and Energy Secretary sent off to find the sums afterwards.” Read at Daily Express ↗
Centre · 1On Brexit, Burnham has said he wants an "honest discussion" about freedom of movement. On Monday he appeared to suggest it would return only if sanctioned in a referendum, but his team did not repeat this and stressed a broad conversation with no committed outcome. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said an honest discussion is "not the same as settled policy", and Mason says some Labour MPs saw the episode as a self-inflicted tangle while others welcomed Burnham's public thinking-aloud. BBC NewsN “On Monday morning, the prime minister appeared to add more detail, suggesting freedom of movement would only return in the UK having been sanctioned in a referendum.”“Later, though, his team wouldn't repeat that, instead emphasising that Burnham wants to start a broad based conversation”“Some of his MPs felt this was a self-inflicted tangle he could have done without.” Read at BBC News ↗ Centre · 1Other pending issues Mason lists include a UK-EU summit in Brussels next month, Alan Milburn's review on young people not in work, education or training, the wait for migrants to claim permanent residence, and how to fund defence spending of 3% of national income by the end of the decade. BBC NewsN “Next month, there will be a UK-EU Summit in Brussels, which was due to happen in the summer but was postponed when Sir Keir Starmer resigned.”“how ministers will find the money to spend 3% of national income on defence by the end of the decade” Read at BBC News ↗ Right · 1The Express also says Burnham appeared on Celebrity Gogglebox for Stand Up To Cancer during the week and warns that markets want consistency from the government ahead of the Budget. Daily ExpressR “He's been on Celebrity Gogglebox with his old pal Steve Rotheram, welling up for Stand Up To Cancer.”“All they want from regular bloke Andy Burnham is consistency.” Read at Daily Express ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre1 outlet
- Framing
- Analytical briefing from BBC political editor Chris Mason on the pile-up of decisions facing Burnham after 100 days, led by the Budget, Brexit and North Sea oil and gas.
- Emphasis
- Budget scale and themes, Brexit and freedom of movement, Jackdaw approval and Rosebank dilemma, other upcoming reviews and defence funding.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not mention Miliband or standing-charge plans, which the Express raises.
- Charged language
- “crunchy decisions”“self-inflicted tangle”
- For example
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“there are a whole series of crunchy decisions and trade offs – economic and political – some of which are inevitable and some of which Burnham has decided to lean into.” — BBC News
Right1 outlet
- Framing
- Satirical opinion column mocking Burnham and Miliband, welcoming a Rosebank approval while arguing the government decides on 'vibes' and risks market jitters.
- Emphasis
- Miliband's discomfort over Rosebank, Burnham's TV appearance, unfunded standing-charge pledge, Truss comparison.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Gives little detail on the Budget's content or Jackdaw, and does not cite named sources for the Rosebank reports beyond weekend papers.
- Charged language
- “huge slap”“gas guzzling jet”“vibes”“chaos”
- For example
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“But even the right call looks rickety when it is made on vibes. Yet under this government vibes are the house style.” — Daily Express
What every side reports
- Andy Burnham is prime minister and a Budget is due this week.
- The Rosebank oilfield is a live and contested decision for the government.
- Brexit and the government's approach to the EU are a source of political difficulty for Burnham.
Where accounts differ
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Whether the government's approach is chaotic
- Centre
- Mason describes difficult trade-offs, some of which Burnham has chosen to lean into, with a government whose MPs are more chipper and polls up.
- Right
- The Express opinion says governing on "vibes" is plunging Budget week into chaos.
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Who holds energy and foreign portfolios
- Centre
- BBC names Miatta Fahnbulleh as Energy Secretary and does not mention Miliband.
- Right
- The Express refers to Miliband as Foreign Secretary who once was energy secretary, and mentions an Energy Secretary without naming them.
Andy Burnham person
Burnham is portrayed as pushing an open conversation on Brexit and freedom of movement, while allies reportedly favour Rosebank; the Express casts him as governing on vibes.
“Burnham has no such reservations: he has repeatedly said in the last few weeks, let's talk about Brexit.” — BBC News
“Back from the telly, he took to the timeless presuit of slapping his own Cabinet about.” — Daily Express
Ed Miliband person
The Express says Miliband previously called Rosebank "climate vandalism" and would be shocked by approval; the piece offers no statement from Miliband himself.
“Now that's the wicked project his Foreign Secretary once branded “climate vandalism” when he was in his eco-phase as energy secretary.” — Daily Express
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre1 article
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BBC NewsN · · Opinion
Chris Mason: The Budget is imminent as tricky things pile up for Burnham
Neutral Explanatory analysis of the decisions piling up for Burnham, weighing both pressures and opportunities.
Right1 article
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Daily ExpressR · · Opinion
Andy Burnham is about to give Ed Miliband a huge slap – finally something sensible
Dismissive Mocking opinion piece that backs oil drilling but ridicules Miliband and portrays Burnham's government as improvising.
- 25 Oct 10:11 First Daily ExpressR Andy Burnham is about to give Ed Miliband a huge slap – finally something sensible Opinion
- 26 Oct 23:03 +36h 52m BBC NewsN Chris Mason: The Budget is imminent as tricky things pile up for Burnham Opinion
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.
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