Brexit: David Mundell admits '˜signicant' issues in oil industry

SECRETARY of State for Scotland David Mundell has met with senior figures from the energy industry as the government prepares to make an exit deal.

Secretary of State for Scotland David Mundell. Picture: Isabel Infantes/PA Wire

Mr Mundell admitted there were “significant” issues to be addressed around the oil and gas industry and Brexit but vowed the industry and British businesses could thrive outwith EU rule.

It comes as the oil and gas industry continues to suffer from slumped oil prices, with thousands of jobs axed across the industry as a result. The Tory cabinet minister said: “Uncertainty is unhelpful. Those people, like me, who argued that Britain should remain in the EU said that if we voted to leave there would be uncertainty.

“Here in Scotland I think one of the easiest things to do to reduce uncertainty would be for the First Minister and the Scottish government to take off the table the idea of a second independence referendum.”

Patrick Harvie MSP, economy spokesman for the Scottish Greens, said: “It’s no surprise that just weeks after the UK government abolished the Department of Energy and Climate Change, David Mundell is choosing to meet with the fossil fuel industry.

“Neither he nor the rest of the Tory Party has shown the slightest interest in supporting the transition toward renewables that will generate the the clean energy we need.”

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