Trump has seized upon reports that Burnham is considering granting new licences for North Sea drilling - an issue the US President has long been vocal about - but then his comments took a much darker turn

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has told Donald Trump that he would “open up the North Sea” for oil drilling, the US president has said.

The US president, who is a vocal supporter of fossil fuels, argues the move would make the UK ‘a wealthy country’.