First Minister John Swinney has launched a stinging attack on the UK Government, accusing it of being unwilling to support Scottish industry ahead of a crucial meeting with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
Mr Swinney's comments come in the wake of significant job losses announced at key industrial sites across Scotland, with the owners pointing the finger at Westminster policy.
Mounting Job Losses Across Key Sites
The First Minister is set to meet Sir Keir at the British Irish Council in Wales on Friday, where he will push for what he terms "urgent" support. This follows the announcement last month of over 400 jobs at risk at the ExxonMobil-owned ethylene plant in Mossmorran, Fife.
A further 100 positions are set to be cut at Harbour Energy in Scotland's north-east. Both companies have reportedly cited UK Government policy as a contributing factor in their decisions.
Mr Swinney argued that Scotland is being treated as an "afterthought" by Westminster, using the crisis to reiterate his call for Scottish independence. He stressed the immediate need for the Labour government to intervene.
"Economic Vandalism" and the Windfall Tax
"This Labour UK Government has failed workers in Scotland," the First Minister stated. "I will be setting out to Keir Starmer the urgent necessity for his Government to provide support for Scottish industry."
He drew a direct comparison with interventions made for industrial towns in England, such as Scunthorpe, questioning why workforces at Grangemouth and Mossmorran had not received similar backing.
Mr Swinney specifically criticised the UK Government's windfall tax on oil and gas companies, labelling it a "tax grab" that is actively costing jobs. He cited warnings from the offshore industry body Offshore Energies UK that the levy is responsible for the loss of 1,000 jobs per month in the North Sea.
"This economic vandalism is continuing today," he added, noting that the policy had cost 100 jobs in the past week alone.
Starmer's Defence and the "Tie-Backs" Policy
Speaking to BBC Scotland on Thursday, Prime Minister Keir Starmer defended his government's approach. He highlighted its approval for allowing oil and gas firms to drill in areas adjacent to existing fields—a practice known as "tie-backs."
When asked why last week's Budget did not scrap or reform the windfall tax, Sir Keir explained that the tax only applies above a specific profit threshold. "We looked very carefully at that," he said, emphasising that the sector had asked for the tie-backs measure, which the government had delivered.
Despite this, Mr Swinney remained unconvinced, accusing the Prime Minister of breaking a promise to put Scotland at the heart of his government. "The fact is for Westminster, Scotland will always be an afterthought," he concluded, arguing that only independence could unlock Scotland's full economic potential.
