SNP MSP and former adviser breaks ranks with Swinney over Rosebank and Jackdaw North Sea approval
The Scottish government has not called for the two North Sea fossil fuel projects to be approved.
An SNP MSP and former special adviser to John Swinney has broken ranks with the Scottish government by explicitly calling for the controversial Rosebank and Jackdaw North Sea developments to be approved.
Jack Middleton, the SNP MSP for Aberdeen Central and former special adviser to John Swinney, has called on Labour ministers in London to approve the two fossil fuel developments, despite climate experts and the International Energy Agency warning that no new oil and gas projects are consistent with keeping global temperature targets within reach.
The Labour UK government has vowed to ban new North Sea licences, but many within the party, including those close of Scottish leader Anas Sarwar, believe Rosebank and Jackdaw should be approved without putting the manifesto pledge in jeopardy given they are seeking environmental consent rather than a new exploration permit.
The SNP government, which under Nicola Sturgeon’s leadership, opposed new developments including the Cambo oil plans, has shifted away from its climate priority towards the economic and employment benefits - with Mr Swinney framing himself as being more pragmatic on the issue.
But the SNP and Scottish government, which hasn’t published a full energy strategy since 2007, has faced criticism for sitting on the fence and failing to come out explicitly in favour of the oil and gas sector or its climate credentials.
That position culminated with the Scottish Tories easily defeating the SNP in the Aberdeen South Westminster by-election, fought on the issue of oil and gas.
Mr Middleton has now explicitly called for the Rosebank and Jackdaw developments to be approved by the UK government.
The Scottish government, while agreeing with much of Mr Middleton’s sentiment, has fallen short of backing his call for the two specific developments to be approved.
Mr Middleton said that he believes in “supporting Scottish jobs, strengthening our energy security, and meeting our climate targets”, arguing that “Jackdaw and Rosebank deliver on all these commitments”.
He added: “Importantly, Jackdaw and Rosebank would secure thousands of Scottish jobs at a time when Westminster is throwing North Sea workers on the scrapheap.
"Frankly, I have little concern about the profits of massive multinational companies, but I care deeply about the livelihoods of my constituents who are facing uncertainty and job losses on a huge scale.”
Mr Middleton stressed that Scottish communities have been “decimated” by decisions on de-industrialisation from Westminster.
In a comment that will be viewed by many as a veiled dig at his party, Mr Middleton added: “I won't stand by and watch that happen to my city and my people. It’s time to show we're on their side.”
Mr Middleton has also argued that tax revenues from the two developments should be set aside and allocated to boosting offshore renewables in Scotland.
He said: "While we remain tied to the UK, the billions sent to Westminster in tax from these developments must be sent back to Scotland and ringfenced for investment in our renewables future."
A Scottish government spokesperson said: "While decisions on consenting for offshore oil and gas projects are reserved to the UK government, ministers share Mr Middleton's view that energy security and investment in Scotland’s energy sector is crucial and that the UK government must replace the energy profits levy with a fair system that protects jobs.
“They also agree that individual North Sea oil and gas projects, by law, must be assessed on a case-by-case basis for their climate compatibility."
Scottish Conservative energy spokesperson, Liam Kerr, said: “The Scottish Conservatives have backed these new projects for years but John Swinney still refuses to back new drilling in the North Sea.
“Swinney’s former special adviser and new MSP has clearly seen how his party’s reckless stance meant they were hammered in the Aberdeen South by-election and is now saying anything in a desperate bid to shore up support for the nationalists in the North East.
“But voters there and across Scotland won’t be fooled.
“Until Swinney and Ed Miliband listen to them and ditch their anti-oil-and-gas stance, they know it is only the Scottish Conservatives who can be trusted to stand up for oil and gas workers and who will fully support plans to get Britain drilling again.”
Adura, the joint Shell-Equinor venture behind the Jackdaw project has been asked to provide further information by the Offshore Petroleum Regulator for Environment and Decommissioning (OPRED) as part of the normal regulatory process.
OPRED is responsible for assessing the environmental impacts of projects including so-called scope three emissions, which is the impact of burning the oil and gas contained within the developments.
The North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA) can only decide whether to grant a development and production consent after OPRED has completed its assessment and Mr Miliband, the UK Energy Secretary, has accepted the environmental statement.
It is understood there is no timescale as to when a final decision will be made
A UK government spokesperson said: “Our priority is to deliver a fair, orderly and prosperous transition in the North Sea in line with our climate and legal obligations, which drives our clean energy future of energy security, lower bills, and good long-term jobs.”
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