Scottish Greens co-leader Gillian Mackay has called on First Minister John Swinney to take a clear position on new oil and gas drilling, criticising the UK Government's approval of the Jackdaw gas field. Speaking during her keynote address at the party's conference in Inverness, she accused the SNP leader of "years of swithering" on the issue.
SNP's shifting position
Under Mr Swinney's leadership, the SNP has moved towards a softer stance on oil and gas, following years of opposition to new fields under Nicola Sturgeon. Mr Swinney has previously said any new field should pass a "climate compatibility test" rather than stating outright support or opposition.
He described the UK Government's decision to approve Jackdaw as providing "certainty" to workers. However, with the decision on the much larger Rosebank field still pending, Ms Mackay urged the SNP leader to oppose it.
Criticism of both governments
Ms Mackay said: "After years of swithering (the SNP) seem to be happy with Jackdaw too, or maybe not – they don't seem to have made up their minds."
She added: "They've welcomed the 'certainty' of Burnham's decision but don't seem to be able to find any certainty about whether they agree with it or not. Labour in Westminster and the SNP in Holyrood – both of them seem unable to take the climate crisis seriously, they don't seem able to make the just transition into a reality."
Call to oppose Rosebank
With energy policy reserved to Westminster, Ms Mackay urged Prime Minister Andy Burnham not to let the "disastrous" Rosebank project, the biggest untapped field in the North Sea, go ahead. She also pressed the SNP to clarify its own position on Rosebank.
"They can't keep hiding behind Westminster – what do they really think?" she said. "John Swinney needs to decide as a matter of urgency where the SNP is going on oil and gas and the climate emergency."
Ms Mackay questioned whether the SNP would "go back to being the pro-oil party of the past", noting that Donald Trump was the first to welcome Jackdaw, and asked if they wanted to "fall in line behind that tangerine eejit". She also asked whether they would turn their back on Nicola Sturgeon's legacy of a more responsible approach to oil and gas.
"The SNP can double down on fossil fuels. Or they can protect our future generations from climate breakdown. But they can't do both," she said. "First Minister, we know where we stand but what about you? It's time to put people and planet before the profits of money-hungry corporations, like Shell, Equinor and BP. First Minister, do you have the courage to oppose Rosebank?"
The Scottish Government has been approached for comment.
