John Swinney was accused of trying to dupe voters in Aberdeen South after again refusing to back new drilling in the North Sea.
At First Minister’s Questions, Russell Findlay urged him to back Scottish Conservative candidate Douglas Lumsden’s call for the Labour government to ditch their ban on fresh oil and gas projects.
Yet, despite 1,000 jobs being lost in the sector every month, Swinney again refused to drop the SNP’s presumption against new drilling ahead of the June 18 by-election.
The SNP leader didn’t even mention oil and gas in his reply, prompting the Scottish Conservative leader to say he’s “not even pretending to support workers” who depend on the sector.
Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay said: “Voters in Aberdeen South are furious about the SNP’s duplicity over oil and gas.
“Thousands of jobs are being lost because of Ed Miliband’s idiotic opposition to new drilling.
“The SNP pretend to back oil and gas but they still have a presumption against new drilling in the North Sea.
“When I urged John Swinney to get off the fence and back our candidate Douglas Lumsden’s clear call to get Britain drilling again he didn’t even answer. He’s not even pretending to support oil and gas workers any more.”
Findlay also attacked Swinney for blocking a parliamentary inquiry into the Peter Murrell scandal.
He cited the case of a lifelong SNP supporter, Margaret Killah from Aberdeen, who died in 2020 aged 84.
Margaret joined the SNP in the 1950s, donated for years and left the party £20,000 in her will.
Margaret’s solicitor was told by Murrell “to deal only with him – not the party treasurer” and her executor said she would have backed an inquiry into how Nicola Sturgeon’s husband was able to steal £400,000 from SNP funds.
Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay said: “John Swinney has blocked a parliamentary inquiry into the SNP crime scandal.
“He doesn’t want to know if Peter Murrell stole taxpayers’ money, the terms of his plea deal, why he got legal aid, or why Nicola Sturgeon wasn’t prosecuted.
“Margaret Killah joined the SNP in the 1950s and donated money for years and left them £20,000 in her will.
“Peter Murrell told Margaret’s solicitor to deal only with him – not the party treasurer.
“Margaret’s executor told me that she would have backed an inquiry.
“She said that ‘Margaret truly believed in the SNP and would have been so upset and angry. We’ll never know if Peter Murrell stole her money.’
“John Swinney is petrified of doing the right thing and backing an inquiry.”