The Secretary of State for Scotland has been told his party is running the country into a ‘de-industrialisation strategy’ after rejecting calls to overturn licences ban and remove EPL.
At Scottish Questions in Westminster, shadow energy minister Andrew Bowie said the Labour UK Government had its “head in the sand” over the need to protect the oil and gas industry.
Labour’s Secretary of State for Scotland has been told his party is running the country into a “de-industrialisation strategy” after rejecting calls to overturn their ban on licenses and remove the Energy Profits Levy.
He called for a “real industrialisation strategy” amid stark warnings that 400 North Sea oil and gas jobs could vanish every two weeks over the next five years.
The MP for West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine also paid tribute to the victims of the Piper Alpha disaster that claimed the lives of 167 men, praising offshore workers who often work in challenging circumstances to “keep the lights on” for the country.
In response to calls to overturn Labour’s ban on granting new licences, and the removal of the EPL, Ian Murray MP maintained that his party’s focus is on a transition away from oil and gas.
Afterwards, Scottish Conservative shadow energy minister Andrew Bowie said: “As we saw with Ian Murray’s response, Labour, just like the SNP, are guilty of economic vandalism.
“Their opposition to new oil and gas projects in the North Sea is sapping confidence and investment from the sector and costing thousands of skilled workers their livelihoods.
“Neither Keir Starmer nor John Swinney has a credible energy strategy. Renewables alone can’t satisfy our energy needs, which is why opposing new oil and gas licences, and not scrapping the EPL, is absolutely reckless.”
