Scottish Secretary Ian Murray struggled to provide a clear timeline on when Scottish households can expect a reduction in energy bills under Labour’s GB Energy plan.
During an interview on BBC’s Good Morning Scotland, host Gary Robertson repeatedly pressed Murray on Labour’s election promise to cut household energy bills by £300. Instead, since last July, bills have risen by £170, with another increase expected from April.
When asked directly, “You promised in your manifesto that you would bring energy bills down, when’s that going to happen?” Murray avoided a direct answer, instead highlighting the complexities of energy policy.
“This is a tough nut to crack,” he said, pointing to global instability, particularly the war in Ukraine, as a factor in rising energy costs. He added that achieving clean energy by 2030 required fixing grid regulation and accelerating renewable energy projects.
Robertson challenged Murray again, stating, “But it hasn’t happened so far… You haven’t lowered bills, have you?”
Murray replied: “Well, that’s exactly what GB Energy’s remit is—to get to this clean power mission by Labour, delivered for Scotland, lowering bills. I don’t think anybody would have thought we would lower bills on the day after the election.”
He insisted that prices would decrease once the UK had “energy security.”
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Uncertainty over Aberdeen Jobs
The discussion also touched on Labour’s pledge to create 1,000 energy jobs in Aberdeen. GB Energy boss Juergen Maier recently admitted that meeting this target could take up to 20 years.
When pressed on when new jobs would materialise, Murray again avoided specifics, saying: “It’s not about how many people work in the GB Energy HQ. It’s about how many jobs it creates in terms of the renewables industry.”
The lack of clear answers has fuelled scepticism over Labour’s ability to deliver on its energy promises, with concerns growing over rising bills and the long-term economic impact on Scotland’s energy sector.
