The Scottish Conservatives have demanded that the first vote of the new Scottish Parliament should be on oil and gas, to establish the SNP’s true position on supporting the sector.
Leader Russell Findlay made the call ahead of a visit today to the Aberdeen South constituency, where a Westminster by-election is imminent following Stephen Flynn’s election to Holyrood.
It is set to be a closely fought contest between the Scottish Conservatives and the SNP, with Flynn winning the similar Holyrood constituency by only 1,200 votes last week.
Findlay says that John Swinney spent the recent Scottish Parliament election “dishonestly” pretending to support oil and gas, when his party still has an anti-drilling agenda.
Wednesday’s King’s Speech confirmed that Sir Keir Starmer’s UK government remains committed to Labour’s manifesto pledge not to grant any new oil and gas licences.
Findlay says that instead of John Swinney starting a new Parliamentary term with a vote on another independence referendum, he should “come clean” and tell Scots if he backs new drilling in the North Sea.
North East MSP Douglas Lumsden, who will join Findlay on the visit, says that both the SNP and Labour have “shamefully betrayed” the industry and that voters won’t forget this when the by-election takes place.
Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay said: “Instead of holding a vote to demand an unwanted referendum, the new parliament should explicitly back Scotland’s critically important oil and gas sector.
“For the sake of the tens of thousands of workers who fear for their future, I’m challenging John Swinney to make this the first vote of the new term.
“Swinney spent the election campaign dishonestly pretending to support oil and gas when, in fact, the SNP is still bound by Nicola Sturgeon’s anti-drilling agenda.
“Labour have been clear about their ludicrous and dangerous hostility to the industry, but the SNP should also come clean – so let’s have the debate and hold the vote.
“This is especially important because of the crucial by-election in Aberdeen South. While voters know that the Scottish Conservatives fully support the industry, they should not be deceived by the two-faced SNP.”
Scottish Conservative North East MSP Douglas Lumsden said: “SNP and Labour politicians have shamefully betrayed the oil and gas industry by refusing to back key projects and having a ban on new licences.
“Voters in Aberdeen South are rightly furious at this and know both John Swinney and Sir Keir Starmer cannot be trusted to stand up for the sector.
“I’m delighted to be joining Russell in the North East today and as campaigning ramps up for the by-election, I cannot wait to highlight how it is only the Scottish Conservatives who can beat the SNP here to send the strongest possible message that the destruction of the oil and gas industry cannot go on.”