SNP leadership contender Ash Regan says she would not support the rapid phase-out of North Sea oil and gas – at odds with her party’s stance.
The former government minister adopted an immediately more pro-fossil fuel stance than under Nicola Sturgeon, making it an early battleground in the race to be the next first minister.
On Monday afternoon, she said a move away from oil and gas as fast as possible would “throw tens of thousands of oil workers out of jobs”.
Ms Sturgeon’s government unveiled a new energy strategy in January which calls for a “presumption against” new North Sea oil and gas exploration.
It was condemned by one north-east business leader as a “breathtaking betrayal of one of Scotland’s biggest industries”.
Ms Regan said: “I will not support an accelerated net zero path which sees us turn off the North Sea taps, throw tens of thousands of oil workers out of jobs, hollow out north-east and Highland and island communities whilst still using and importing hydrocarbons.
“I will stand up for our oil workers and their communities.”
Early battleground
Ms Regan is staking out a position as a rebel, having resigned from her role as community safety minister over gender recognition reforms.
The 48-year-old is going head to head against Highland MSP Kate Forbes and Health Secretary Humza Yousaf in the leadership race.
Nominations will close on Friday and the winner will be announced on March 27.
Polling by Survation last month revealed more than three-quarters of people in Scotland think the UK should aim to meet is demand for oil and gas from domestic production.
The research, commissioned by north-east advisory firm True North, suggests 76% of people in Scotland think North Sea drilling is preferable to importing oil and gas.
The SNP’s energy strategy underlines the “prosperity” the oil and gas sector has brought to the north-east, hailing the region as a “global centre for the energy industry”.
However, ministers stress that “unlimited extraction of fossil fuels is not consistent” with efforts to decarbonise.
Recommended for you
