The two remaining candidates for the Scottish Labour leadership are being challenged to say whether they support transferring powers over Scotland’s energy from Westminster to Holyrood.
The SNP has called on both candidates to back its “It’s Scotland’s Energy” campaign, putting the constitutional question of who controls energy policy firmly into the leadership contest.
The campaign follows the SNP’s election commitment to seek the transfer of energy powers to the Scottish Parliament.
MSPs have also recently backed a proposal at Holyrood supporting greater Scottish control over energy.
The SNP argues that Westminster control has left households facing high energy bills while Scotland produces substantial amounts of energy from renewable and traditional sources.
It has also linked the argument to the future of Scotland’s energy workforce and the continuing transition away from oil and gas.
The party claims household energy bills are heading towards being around £600 higher than Labour promised during the General Election campaign two years ago.
It has also criticised the UK Government over the closure of Grangemouth and its failure to remove the Energy Profits Levy, which the SNP argues has damaged investment and contributed to job losses in the North Sea.
The leadership contest now gives the party an opportunity to force the question directly onto Labour’s two remaining candidates.
SNP MSP Dawn Black said:
“The SNP is firmly on the side of our energy industry, Westminster inflicted the hated tax on Scotland’s energy and is now attempting to shut the industry down without a just transition.
“The Labour UK Government has also lumbered energy rich Scotland with the highest energy bills in Europe, it is a disgrace and will be put to an end when we put Scotland’s energy in Scotland’s hands.
“Whoever goes on to lead the Labour Party in Scotland needs to come clean with the public: do they support Scotland’s energy being in Scotland’s hands, or are they happy with Westminster control that has seen bills soar and jobs brutally cut?
“For too long the Labour Party has denied Scottish democracy, their next leader must back the campaign for Scotland to have power over our own energy.”
Energy policy is currently divided between reserved and devolved responsibilities, with significant powers over areas including energy markets and taxation remaining at Westminster.
The SNP wants considerably greater control transferred to Edinburgh, arguing that decisions affecting Scotland’s energy resources, jobs and household bills should be made in Scotland.
The political argument will now follow the two Labour leadership candidates through the remainder of their contest.
Whatever answer each gives, the question being put to them is straightforward.
Who should ultimately control Scotland’s energy?
