Andy Burnham had not even settled into 10 Downing Street before the North Sea threatened to become his first political headache.
On Saturday 18 July, the BBC reported that the incoming Prime Minister was preparing to announce new oil and gas drilling plans upon taking office, fuelling speculation that the Labour Party was about to abandon its manifesto pledge on exploration licences.
By Sunday, Deputy Leader Lucy Powell had shut that story down.
“Andy has been clear he stands by the policies in our manifesto in relation to that,” she told the BBC.
While the issue was seemingly squashed, the reaction from trade unions, energy companies and environmentalists had been intense, with arguments over energy security, carbon emissions and utility bills all swirling.
