Analysis

Why the SNP is now singing the praises of Labour's GB Energy strategy

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer speaks with First Minister John Swinney during the Council of the Nations and Regions in Edinburgh. Picture: Andy Buchanan/PA WirePrime Minister Sir Keir Starmer speaks with First Minister John Swinney during the Council of the Nations and Regions in Edinburgh. Picture: Andy Buchanan/PA Wire
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer speaks with First Minister John Swinney during the Council of the Nations and Regions in Edinburgh. Picture: Andy Buchanan/PA Wire | PA
The Scottish Government is warming to Labour’s energy strategy - but a key part of the SNP’s vision is still missing.

The SNP has changed its tune on Labour’s plans to place a publicly-owned Aberdeen-based company at the heart of its energy strategy.

During the election campaign, the SNP was quick to raise fears over the plans, including the fair criticism that we don’t know exactly how it will operate.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

But even at the SNP conference last month, the party’s Westminster leader, Stephen Flynn, claimed the idea was simply another case of “Westminster casting its gaze north to Scotland’s resources, with pound signs in their eyes”.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer speaks with First Minister John Swinney during the Council of the Nations and Regions in Edinburgh. Picture: Andy Buchanan/PA WirePrime Minister Sir Keir Starmer speaks with First Minister John Swinney during the Council of the Nations and Regions in Edinburgh. Picture: Andy Buchanan/PA Wire
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer speaks with First Minister John Swinney during the Council of the Nations and Regions in Edinburgh. Picture: Andy Buchanan/PA Wire | PA

As Ed Miliband, Labour’s UK energy secretary, descends on Aberdeen for the first time since it was formally announced as the home of GB Energy, SNP ministers are publicly craving some of the potential benefits.

SNP acting net zero secretary, Gillian Martin, has now made it crystal clear that Scotland’s two governments are on the same page - at least on this part of energy policy.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar, Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer and energy strategy Ed Miliband (Photo: Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire)Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar, Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer and energy strategy Ed Miliband (Photo: Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire)
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar, Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer and energy strategy Ed Miliband (Photo: Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire)

Mr Miliband’s trip to Aberdeen is focused on showing what GB Energy can deliver for Scotland, and there is a real acknowledgement that things will run a lot smoother if Westminster works with Holyrood instead of imposing things, as was perceived to be happening under his Tory predecessors.

Ms Martin has praised the “collaborative agreement” between the two governments that will allow GB Energy to “work with our public bodies to maximise investment into Scotland”.

The Labour administration at Westminster is making a real attempt to work better in partnership with Holyrood - it is in the interests of both governments for this to continue. 

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

But we are still yet to find out what the Scottish Government thinks should happen with the North Sea oil and gas sector - with a long-awaited and drastically-delayed energy strategy still not published by Ms Martin.

Gillian Martin is set to publish the Scottish Government’s delayed energy strategyGillian Martin is set to publish the Scottish Government’s delayed energy strategy
Gillian Martin is set to publish the Scottish Government’s delayed energy strategy

Labour has signalled its intent to end new licences and announced yesterday that Liz Ditchburn will be the new chief of the North Sea Transition Authority. But that appointment also feels like an olive branch to the SNP - given Ms Ditchburn previously worked as the Scottish Government’s director general for economy.

But whether or not the Scottish Government does water down its position to back an “acceleration” of the transition away from fossil fuels could reignite tensions with Labour.

Comments

 0 comments

Want to join the conversation? Please or to comment on this article.

Dare to be Honest
Follow us
©National World Publishing Ltd. All rights reserved.Cookie SettingsTerms and ConditionsPrivacy notice