Within a few days of taking office, incoming Prime Minister Andy Burnham is preparing to announce new oil and gas drilling in the North Sea and take Thames Water into public ownership. Burnham's team has asked the civil service to draft new energy and water policy plans, which may be announced as early as next week, according to people familiar with the matter. He will succeed Kiel Stammer as prime minister next Monday and plans to issue a series of public statements in the first few days after taking office to mark a break with the previous administration.

Within a few days of taking office, incoming Prime Minister Andy Burnham is preparing to announce new oil and gas drilling in the North Sea and take Thames Water into public ownership. Burnham's team has asked the civil service to draft new energy and water policy plans, which may be announced as early as next week, according to people familiar with the matter. He will succeed Kiel Stammer as prime minister next Monday and plans to issue a series of public statements in the first few days after taking office to mark a break with the previous administration.