RESPECTED North Sea veteran Tony Craven Walker has attacked Labour and the Conservatives for using the industry as a political football.
The UK’s two main political parties come under fire for the “damaging and totally illogical impact” to the Scottish economy of their respective North Sea policies.
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“We are currently in a pre-election period and I believe this is coloured by distorted short-term position taking and point-scoring, leaving industry… in the crossfire,” he said.
Speaking at his last annual general meeting (AGM) before stepping down as chairman of North Sea firm Serica Energy, Mr Craven Walker added he was optimistic “sense and reality will prevail”.
He continued: “The reality is that, post the election, any new government will have to reverse a lot of the changes and announcements recently made if we are to prevent premature termination of existing offshore infrastructure – and avoid longer term damage to the industry and the UK economy.
“This can be done without affecting net-zero targets but as part of the transition in which we are all involved.”
Earlier in the day, London-listed Serica relinquished its licence for the North Eigg prospect in the northern sector of the North Sea, abandoning hopes of a side-track well.
Shares in the “mid-tier” oil and gas company fell more than 8%.
