Donald Trump has said “Andy is getting it done” as he again claimed the UK was “opening up North Sea oil”.
The US president’s comments come after Andy Burnham’s Government this week gave the go-ahead to gas drilling in the Jackdaw field.
In welcoming the scheme at the time, Mr Trump appeared to confuse fossil fuels and suggest it was oil which would be tapped by the project.
A decision has yet to be made on the Rosebank oil and gas field.
Mr Trump said he had spoken to the Prime Minister as he left the White House on Friday to head for a campaign rally in Florida.
He told reporters: “We discussed the fact that they’re opening up the North Sea oil, and that’s going to make the UK a very rich country.
“They’re opening up the North Sea oil. I’ve been after them to do that for two years.
“The other prime minister, the previous man, Starmer. He’s a very nice man, but he never got it done, and this one is getting it.
“Andy is getting it done, and I guess it’s against the liberal principle, but he knows what’s right. It’s going to make UK a very wealthy country.”
