Reform UK’s Scottish leader Malcolm Offord and UK Deputy Leader Richard Tice visited the Chamber on Wednesday, where they took part in a policy roundtable ahead of the Holyrood elections next month.
Representatives from a diverse range of industries from AGCC’s membership had over an hour to put their questions to the senior politicians in a wide-ranging discussion spanning the cost of doing business, taxation, sustainability of public finances, pensions, economic development, food and drink, creative industries, the third sector, inward investment and the energy sector in all its forms.
The Reform UK representatives set out their stall as an unashamedly pro-growth, pro-wealth creation party who have pledged to cut taxes if in a position of power at Holyrood beyond May 7th.
Tice and Offord used the visit to Aberdeen to set out their stall on future oil and gas extraction from the North Sea – calling for “every last barrel, every last drop” to be exploited, including by means of fracking.
In a press conference held following the Chamber roundtable Tice, the party’s energy spokesperson at Westminster, called on the government to approval “all existing drilling consents” in the North Sea – including an immediate green light for both the Rosebank and Jackdaw fields, which are currently awaiting environmental approval by government.
Chamber members stressed the need for an all-energy approach – which maximises domestic oil and gas in the here and now while building out the renewables we will need in the future, and supporting the supply chain in the process.