Pressure is growing on Westminster over the future of Scotland’s oil and gas industry ahead of a House of Commons debate on energy security.
Dave Doogan challenged the Labour Government to scrap the Energy Profits Levy, arguing the tax has damaged Scotland’s offshore sector and contributed to thousands of job losses in the North Sea.
He also called on the Conservatives to apologise for introducing the tax in the first place.
The comments come amid continuing concern across the North East of Scotland over investment uncertainty, offshore employment and the long term future of North Sea production.
Speaking ahead of the debate, Doogan said:
“The Labour government must scrap its punitive tax on Scotland’s energy, which has destroyed thousands of Scottish oil and gas jobs and put our energy security at risk.
“Westminster is treating Scottish oil and gas jobs as expendable.
“The Tories introduced this damaging tax, and the Labour Party has continued it.
“They must both take responsibility and apologise for taking a wrecking ball to Scottish jobs and our vital energy industry.
“For more than 50 years, successive Labour and Tory governments have taken over £400billion of Scotland’s energy wealth to Westminster and failed to deliver the investment Scotland needs.
“That must end now.
“It is a disgrace that energy rich Scotland is facing yet another crisis thanks to Westminster failure.
“Scottish families are being forced to pay some of the highest bills in Europe for a resource we have in plenty, while Westminster takes the axe to Scottish energy jobs.”
Doogan also used the statement to set out his position following his appointment as the SNP’s new Westminster Leader.
“As the SNP’s new Westminster Leader, I want people in Aberdeen, and across the North East of Scotland, to know that I am on their side and fully committed to being the clearest champion for Scottish oil and gas workers in the UK Parliament.
“That means defending Scottish oil and gas jobs, promoting our crucial industry in no uncertain terms, and demanding the UK government abandon its punitive tax regime, which has destroyed thousands of jobs in the North Sea.
“My predecessor Stephen Flynn made standing up for Scottish oil and gas workers his top priority and I will follow his footsteps in demanding urgent action from the UK government to deliver the investment, certainty and supportive environment that our energy industry needs to protect vital oil and gas jobs now and secure the vital renewable jobs of the future.
“For me there is no ‘either, or’ when it comes to protecting our oil and gas industry now and transitioning to being a renewable powerhouse of the future.
“They go hand in hand and you can’t have one without the other.
“The SNP will press for the strongest possible support and investment for our industry to create jobs, lower bills and deliver energy security.
“It’s Scotland’s energy, and under my leadership the SNP will be a standard bearer for our industry at Westminster.”
The debate comes as Scotland’s offshore energy sector continues to face uncertainty over future investment, taxation and the pace of transition towards renewable energy.
For many communities tied to the North Sea industry, the argument is no longer simply about energy policy but about protecting jobs, skills and long term economic stability.
