John Swinney has clashed with Conservatives over windfall tax and energy policy during a heated First Minister's Questions.
The fiery exchange came in the wake of Harbour Energy announcing 250 job cuts in Aberdeen, on top of the 350 roles axed in 2023.
Later this morning, Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce will convene an emergency press conference alongside unions, charities and industry to highlight the huge impact Labour policies are having on jobs, investment and communities.
Harbour Energy's managing director of UK operations, Scott Barr, said the latest cuts were the result of the “government’s ongoing punitive fiscal position and a challenging regulatory environment”.
During FMQs, The Herald reports, Scottish Conservative MSP Douglas Lumsden asked if Swinney would apologise to “the 250 workers who are set to lose their livelihoods as his government turns its back on the North-east of Scotland”.
He continued: “We have a Labour government at Westminster determined to destroy the North-east and the oil and gas industry.
“But we also have an SNP government asleep at the wheel with no energy strategy, a presumption against new oil and gas, and who are selling out communities all over the North-east.”
In retort, Swinney highlighted the windfall tax was first introduced by a Conservative government, and that the Scottish government had "made clear" its concerns about its extension and scale.
He went on: “The energy profits levy was a product of the last Conservative government. It does not matter how much I get barracked in this Parliament - I will point out the hard realities and implications of the Conservative Party’s decisions in the UK Government.”
The energy profits levy was introduced in 2022 by Boris Johnson at 35% before being upped to 38% by Rachel Reeves last year.
That has left the headline rate of tax on upstream oil and gas activity at a staggering 78%.