North Sea: Former Aberdeen Lord Provost quits party group over Labour's plans for oil and gas

Barney Crockett says Sir Keir Starmer’s proposals are “more brutal” than anything Margaret Thatcher did

Aberdeen’s former Lord Provost has reportedly quit the local Labour group after describing Sir Keir Starmer’s plans for North Sea oil and gas as “more brutal” than anything Margaret Thatcher did.

Councillor Barney Crockett, who led Aberdeen City Council from 2012 until 2014 and was the city’s Lord Provost from 2017 until last year, has announced he has left the Labour group in anger at Sir Keir’s proposals.

On Monday Sir Keir was in Leith to announce plans for a publicly-owned energy company called GB Energy if Labour win the next general election. He said this company, which he hopes will lower people’s energy bills and create tens of thousands of jobs, will be based somewhere in Scotland.

Labour will not grant new exploration licences for North Sea oil and gas fields if it wins the next general election. Image: Press Association.

This comes only weeks after Labour said it would block any new exploration licences for oil and gas fields in the North Sea.

The Scottish Conservatives warned Labour’s proposals would cost jobs and be a betrayal to the north-east.

Speaking to Grampian Chamber of Commerce, Cllr Crockett said: “I have been left stunned and bemused by the events of the last few weeks.

“The Labour leadership has made crucial decisions about the future of the UK, decisions focused on this area, without contacting anyone from this area or from the local Labour party. Margaret Thatcher never delivered a more brutal put down of an industry than that delivered by Sir Keir Starmer in Edinburgh.

Sir Keir Starmer made the announcement in Leith. Image: Peter Summers/Getty Images.

“Moreover, he avoided answering any direct questions about Aberdeen – rather he deflected to Anas Sarwar, who made no specific response about the city.”

Cllr Crockett added: “This was not done at all lightly. It had nothing to do with friends and close colleagues in the Labour group. No one has greater respect than I for all of what Labour has achieved for this city over the last 130 years.

“However, I felt I could not in all conscience say what I believe about the wider situation whilst remaining in the group. This area needs to fight with vigour to have some control of its own destiny.”

In response Sarah Boyack MSP, the party’s energy spokeswoman, said: “Oil and gas will continue to play a vital part in the UK’s energy industry for decades to come. Labour’s transformational energy plans will make Scotland a world leader in clean energy and will deliver jobs and prosperity to Scotland, including the north-east.”

The Scottish Conservatives have branded the announcement a “devastating verdict” on Labour’s “economically illiterate plans” for North Sea oil and gas.

Douglas Lumsden, MSP for the North East, said: “It beggars belief that the UK Labour leader has pressed ahead with his plans that would throw tens of thousands of north-east workers under a bus.

"That sums up why Keir Starmer was in hiding earlier this week and outlined his plans to betray the North East in Edinburgh rather than Aberdeen.

"When senior figures in his own party like Barney Crockett are leaving Labour because of how much damage their plans would do to the north east, Keir Starmer and Anas Sarwar should pay attention.”