The SNP Scottish Government has quietly dropped its hardline opposition to the development of the Rosebank oil field – in a move that signals a pragmatic recalibration in its approach under John Swinney’s leadership.
Nicola Sturgeon introduced a draft energy strategy in 2023, which contained a “presumption against” new oil and gas extraction – knocking investor confidence in the North Sea and alienating voters in core constituencies in the North-east of Scotland.
Her successor Humza Yousaf, while First Minister, said he was “disappointed” by the then Conservative government’s support for Rosebank stating at the time that it amounted to “climate denial”.
In the wake of the publication of Rosebank’s environmental impact assessment this week, the Scottish Government adopted a softer response, merely noting that “decisions on consenting for offshore oil and gas projects, as well as those on licensing and the associated fiscal regime, are matters that are currently reserved to the UK government.”
According to reports in The Times, the move follows mounting pressure from within the party ranks – particularly from MPs representing energy-reliant constituencies where oil and gas jobs are being lost in their thousands, without new jobs in renewables being created to replace them.
Senior SNP politicians who are thought to favour a more nuanced and pragmatic position include the SNP’s Westminster leader Stephen Flynn, Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes and Energy Secretary Gillian Martin – all politicians representing North-east or North of Scotland constituencies.
Rosebank’s previous consent was struck down in 2025 by the Court of Session, which found that the government should include downstream emissions (Scope 3) in its environmental assessment of the project. Equinor and its partners in the development have made a new submission to include this information, which now awaits determination by the UK Government.
The eyes of Scotland’s energy sector are firmly on the outcome of this process – with approval for Rosebank set to ease investment uncertainty in oil and gas, albeit within a tighter regulatory environment.
The shift in approach from the Scottish Government – although not the key decision-makers on North Sea licensing – will be welcomed among industry stakeholders who have long called for greater clarity and support from Holyrood.
Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce Chief Executive Russell Borthwick
Commenting, Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce Chief Executive Russell Borthwick said: “This is a subtle, nuanced – but nonetheless important – signal from the Scottish Government and should be welcomed.
“While we shouldn’t lose focus on accelerating the pace of the energy transition and putting Scotland and the UK at the forefront of new technology, for as long as we need oil and gas we should produce our own from the North Sea – backing our world-class supply chain and workforce to the hilt.
“A presumption against new oil and gas was always a madcap position – which risked prioritising imports over domestic supply and the offshoring of jobs and carbon emissions.
“The UK Government now needs to demonstrate that the regulatory regime can support investment in new developments – and they have the chance in the upcoming Budget to remove the punitive Energy Profits Levy in 2026 to put the North Sea back in business.”