First Minister John Swinney has warned that Scotland’s energy industry faces an “existential threat” unless the UK Government intervenes.
Swinney met Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer ahead of the British-Irish Council summit in Wales, following recent job losses at ExxonMobil’s Mossmorran plant and Harbour Energy in the North-east.
Both firms have cited UK Government policy in their decisions.
Following the meeting, the First Minister said: “I was clear with the Prime Minister – act now or run the risk of delivering irreversible deindustrialisation and decline in Scotland’s economy.
“The energy industry is facing an existential threat unless it gets the support it needs from the UK Government – including removing the energy profits levy – to help ensure there is a just transition from oil and gas to renewables that protects skills and delivers a pipeline of future investment.
“We have a moral obligation to deliver on our climate commitments but must ensure we do not leave communities behind.
“Scotland still suffers the scars of deindustrialisation from previous UK governments and unless there is action now from UK ministers, we run the risk of repeating the mistakes of the past.”
Swinney also pressed the Prime Minister on the impact of the UK Budget on Grangemouth, Mossmorran and the Acorn project, and called for clarity on UK–US trade talks.