The SNP has accused the Labour Party of damaging the UK’s energy security after soaring fuel prices and flight cancellations exposed growing pressure on fuel supplies across the country.
The criticism comes after new figures showed airlines removed nearly two million seats from scheduled flights during May, with around 13,000 flights cancelled amid rising jet fuel costs and concerns over supply shortages ahead of the half term holidays.
Jet fuel prices have more than doubled in recent months, rising from £609 per tonne in February to £1,347 per tonne by April, placing heavy pressure on airlines and travellers across Europe and beyond.
Routes involving France, Germany, the Netherlands, Turkey and the United States have seen some of the biggest reductions in flights as airlines attempt to manage escalating operating costs.
The SNP says the situation has highlighted what it describes as the consequences of allowing the Grangemouth refinery to close last year despite repeated promises from Labour during the 2024 general election campaign.
Grangemouth was previously one of the UK’s key fuel production sites and historically supplied around 65 per cent of the petrol, diesel and jet fuel used across Scotland.
The refinery also played a major role in supplying airports including Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Newcastle with aviation fuel.
During the 2024 election campaign, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said Labour would “step in to save the jobs at the Grangemouth refinery” if elected.
The SNP says that promise was broken after the refinery ultimately closed, leaving the UK more dependent on external supply during periods of global instability.
The latest fuel pressures come against the backdrop of wider international tensions and instability in global energy markets, with fuel prices remaining stubbornly high for households and businesses alike.
SNP Westminster Energy and Transport spokesperson Graham Leadbitter MP said:
“The Labour Party’s betrayal on Grangemouth has damaged the UK’s energy security and the current fuel crisis shows the folly of Keir Starmer’s decision to close the refinery.
“Scotland is an energy rich country and it’s shameful that Scottish families are paying the price for years of Westminster failure with soaring energy bills, sky high petrol prices, insufficient fuel supplies, and flight cancellations.
“Anas Sarwar’s broken promises on Grangemouth are the latest in a long line of betrayals.
“The Labour Party can’t just shift the blame onto the war in Iran when successive Labour and Tory governments have left the UK in this precarious and insecure position by failing to invest.
“Voters were promised change but the Labour Party closed Grangemouth, destroyed thousands of Scottish jobs in the North Sea, and have presided over soaring energy and fuel prices with energy bills that will soon be £700 higher than promised.
“The Scottish election is the first opportunity voters will have to pass their judgement on the Labour Party’s record of failure and broken promises.
“Every vote for the SNP is a vote to tackle the cost of living, stand up for Scotland and secure a fresh start with independence.”
The debate around Grangemouth is expected to remain a major political issue as Scotland heads further into election season, with energy security, jobs and fuel costs continuing to dominate public concern.
