Prime Minister Andy Burnham is expected to face a series of challenging decisions as Parliament reconvenes this week. Among the key issues are North Sea oil and gas, electoral reform, and defence spending.
The Energy Secretary, Miatta Fahnbulleh, is tasked with making a quasi-judicial decision on allowing drilling to commence at the Rosebank oilfield and Jackdaw gasfield. It has been reported that Mr Burnham will direct Ms Fahnbulleh to approve the Jackdaw gasfield, which industry estimates suggest could supply roughly 6% of the UK’s future gas output. However, this is not expected to impact domestic bills as gas is sold on a global market.
Mr Burnham is also scheduled to meet US President Donald Trump in September at the UN general assembly in New York City. Their discussions are anticipated to include the war in Ukraine, following Mr Burnham's recent meeting with Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv.
The electoral reform bill is returning to Parliament this week. Mr Burnham had previously supported a cap on individual donations, but this measure has reportedly been dropped after lobbying from unions. Additionally, nearly 100 Labour MPs are supporting an amendment to the bill, calling for a commission on electoral reform within the first 100 days of the government.
Other significant challenges include the upcoming budget, which will need to balance existing commitments with fiscal rules and economic pressures, and decisions on welfare spending following a review due in the autumn.