Labour and the SNP’s opposition to new North Sea oil and gas projects means the entire economy of North East Scotland is on the line at the General Election, the Scottish Conservatives have warned.
Holyrood’s largest opposition party will lead a debate on the future of the industry – which supports tens of thousands of skilled Scottish jobs – in Holyrood tomorrow (Wednesday).
Labour, the SNP, the Greens and the Liberal Democrats are against new oil and gas licences being granted in the North Sea, a policy branded “economic and environmental lunacy” by Douglas Ross.
The Scottish Conservative leader insists that only his party are standing up for North East communities, as he urged the other parties to “see sense and reverse their disastrous energy policies”.
Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross said: “The entire economy of North East Scotland is on the line at this election because of the reckless plans of Labour and the SNP to turn off the taps in the North Sea.
“It is economic and environmental lunacy to turn away from oil and gas, as Labour, the SNP, Greens and Lib Dems are intent on doing, because it would see tens of thousands of skilled jobs lost and force us to import more expensive fossil fuels with a greater carbon footprint.
“Only the Scottish Conservatives are standing up for the oil and gas sector – to both protect the North East communities that rely on it and to safeguard our energy security.
“Everyone wants a just transition to net zero, but currently there are not enough renewables on stream to meet our energy needs. That’s why we will continue to need oil and gas for decades to come.
“The Scottish Conservatives will use this debate to hammer home the importance of the oil and gas sector and urge the other parties to see sense and reverse their disastrous energy policies.”