Humza Yousaf‘s position on North Sea oil is as slippery as the stuff itself, the Scottish Conservatives deputy leader has claimed.
Meghan Gallacher attacked the First Minister of Scotland’s record on oil and gas in an op-ed published in the Scottish Daily Express on Saturday (February 24).
The MSP for Central Scotland accused the Scottish National Party‘s stance on oil and gas as “reliably worthless”, citing the SNP’s response to Labour’s energy policies which include a windfall tax on energy giants.
Sir Keir Starmer has said his party will raise the levy to 78 percent and extend it to 2029. Mr Yousaf then claimed that this has caused “extreme anger” in the north east of Scotland.
The First Minister favours maintaining the windfall tax at 75 percent and accuses Labour of planning to use the extra funds raised to pay for nuclear plants in England.
Ms Gallacher said Labour has set its face against any further development, even though experts agree that this would be “profoundly” damaging to the economy, energy security and environment.
She added: “It must be an embarrassment for (Scottish Labour leader) Anas Sarwar to see his leader disowning a genuinely world-leading Scottish industry.
“And criticism from Humza Yousaf and the Nats’ Westminster leader Stephen Flynn is scarcely believable in its brazen hypocrisy – because, like Labour, the SNP have argued furiously against new oil and gas licences being granted, and would happily turn off the taps in the North Sea now.”
The MSP concluded: “Only the Scottish Conservatives have been fighting to protect our oil and gas workers, and to implement a practical, measured move towards more sustainable energy while preserving jobs and vital transferable skills.
“The differences between Labour and the Nats are microscopic, and this pathetic, dancing-on-the-head-of-a-pin spat is essentially over which of them is betraying North-East communities most.”
A spokesperson for the SNP said: “Between them, Tory and Labour governments at Westminster have squandered £400billion of North Sea revenues and invested not a single penny for long-term benefit.
“The Tories have a long and dishonourable record of throwing industries and communities in Scotland on the scrap heap – from coal and steel to fishing – and Labour have dumped their green prosperity plan.
“The SNP Government, by contrast, is focussed on delivering a just transition for the north east by supporting industry and protecting thousands of jobs, backed up by our £500million Just Transition Fund.”
This week saw Scottish Conservatives leader Douglas Ross challenge Mr Yousaf and Mr Sarwar to debate him on the future of oil and gas.
Mr Ross wrote to his SNP and Labour counterparts to argue only his party has supported the North Sea industry “every step of the way”.
His move followed a heated debate at First Minister’s Questions on Thursday (February 22) over Labour’s proposals to extend the windfall tax.
After tense exchanges, Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce tweeted all three leaders to say it is willing to host a debate on the issue, asking: “How does next month sound?”
Mr Ross has told his opponents he is “fully behind” the idea. He said: “The North Sea oil and gas industry is crucial not just to the 100,000 skilled workers it employs – predominantly in the north east – but to Scotland’s entire economy and energy security.
“That’s why I’m urging Humza Yousaf and Anas Sarwar to join me in a debate on the future of the sector, which has a key role to play in a just and managed transition to net zero.
“Behind the desperate spin and counter-spin of the SNP and Labour, the reality is both parties want to turn off the taps in the North Sea now.”
