HomeBusinessSNP confused over North Sea fraught with electoral danger Achi-News

SNP confused over North Sea fraught with electoral danger Achi-News

- Advertisement -

Achi news desk-

Is the SNP’s somewhat ambiguous position on North Sea oil and gas really sustainable in a general election campaign when voters want to know exactly what parties stand for when choosing who they support?

Whether the SNP supports or opposes new developments in the sector is a question that journalists and opposition parties have been asking over the last few days. However, so far, no unequivocal answers have been given.

Although energy policy has been reserved for Westminster, the Scottish Government’s draft position is a “hypothesis against” new fossil fuel developments being given the green light – a net zero position at the time, Michael Matheson, set under Ms Sturgeon’s administration in January last year.

Cabinet secretary for net zero Mairi McAllan was due to announce the new energy strategy this month but rules around pre-election government policy announcements have meant the document will not come out until after polling day on July 4 .

However, there is no rule against a party stating its position.

Prime Minister John Swinney appeared to suggest on Sunday that his government may be reviewing its current policy position of opposing new exploration licences.

He told the Mail on Sunday during a visit to Aberdeen last weekend that there was an “audit” into the party’s policy.

“I want the Scottish Government to work closely and carefully with the oil and gas sector to ensure its sustainability,” he said.

“We need the oil and gas sector to contribute to the transition to net zero, so it has to be strong enough and robust enough to do that. In addition to that, I want to make sure that the sector is to be able to contribute to the energy security objectives that we have identified in our policy programme. It is an audit from our point of view, that is how we would describe it.”

Read more:

The North Sea sector needs ‘clarity and guidance’

Mr Swinney was asked again about the position of the SNP which supports a “presumption” against new licenses at the party’s general election launch in Glasgow last Sunday.

Again he gave an answer that did not give much clarity.

Mr Swinney said: “There are a whole range of different government announcements that I committed to publishing before the summer break that I’m not going to be able to publish because of the restrictions in the pre-election guidance that comes into force .

“It will not be possible to publish documents such as the energy strategy.”

He added: “I’m interested in achieving net zero but I’m also interested in doing it in a way that doesn’t cause economic damage to the Scottish economy, particularly to the north east of Scotland.

“So that has to be a managed transition to ensure that we undertake that transition as effectively as we can, minimizing our economic damage as a result of a transition that has to be done. ”

The issue came up again during the first televised leaders’ debate of the campaign on Monday night with Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross repeatedly asking Mr Swinney to give a ‘yes or no’ answer as to whether he was in favor new oil and gas developments in the North Sea.

The Herald:
Again, Mr Swinney refused to give such a direct answer. Instead he said he would want a “climate compatibility test on every decision we take in relation to the oil and gas sector”.

Meanwhile, out on the campaign trail in Linlithgow, West Lothian, today Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes said she was not against new licenses and insisted her party was “clear” about its strategy.

However, while he said he was not against new developments, he added that they would have to meet “climate compatibility tests” to be supported by the Scottish Government, suggesting the party reconsider its policy of presumption against licenses new.

Read more:

Unspun | Analysis: Are the Lib Dems just using the campaign trail for fun?

The Scottish Greens – who oppose renewed exploration of the North Sea – have this week written to Mr Swinney seeking clarity.

It is quite possible that the rationale for the SNP’s somewhat ambiguous position relates to conflicting views within the party on what the position should actually be.

It is also likely to be linked to the electoral challenge the party faces in fighting off threats from different rivals in different parts of Scotland.

For example, in the north east of Scotland – where thousands of voters are employed in the oil and gas sector – the SNP wants to dislodge the Tories from seats and make sure that the competing party does not any earnings. So the party is keen not to give the impression that they will stick to the position that opposes new developments.


On the other hand, though, across the central belt the SNP are facing a challenge from Labor – who oppose new licenses – and they don’t want voters motivated by environmental concerns to move away to support Labour. or the Greens if they abandon their present. opposing new licenses situation.

It is undoubtedly a difficult issue for the SNP to discuss.

But there is a greater danger for the party.

Voters should be able to expect a clear answer from the SNP on the matter. A point of view that is either for or against new licenses supported by the reasons why.

The problem at the moment is that the position seems so open to interpretation, people don’t know what the party’s position is. The impression is given that the party is somewhat uncertain about the issue – one of great importance to the Scottish economy and the wider world.

And that lack of conviction on policy could be a hindrance to voters as they go to the polls.

spot_img
RELATED ARTICLES

Most Popular