Swinney opposes UK ban on new North Sea oil drilling

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 5 Nov, 17:40 · Archive

Scottish First Minister John Swinney says he opposes the UK government's plans to ban new oil and gas exploration in the North Sea.

First Minister John Swinney told the Scottish Parliament that he does not support the UK government's plans to ban new oil and gas exploration in the North Sea. He argued that fossil fuels would be required 'for some years to come' and that there was a 'rational' case for further exploration if a project's carbon emissions were lower than using imported fuel.

The stance marks a significant change in direction for the SNP, which previously opposed new oil and gas licences under former leaders Nicola Sturgeon and Humza Yousaf. SNP members voted weeks earlier to ditch the party's 'presumption against' new developments.

If passed by MPs, the UK government's Energy Independence Bill would remove the North Sea Transition Authority's ability to grant fresh oil and gas licences, in line with a Labour manifesto pledge. The bill does not affect the Rosebank oil field decision off Shetland, the UK's largest known untapped field, which was approved in 2022 but has faced legal challenges. Swinney has repeatedly declined to explicitly state whether he supports drilling at Rosebank.

Swinney opposes UK ban on new North Sea oil drilling — Image: Press and Journal

Comments (0)

How it is being reported

John Swinney comes out AGAINST Labour’s ban on new North Sea drillingIt marks a change in direction for the SNP who previously opposed new oil and gas licences under Nicola Sturgeon and Humza Yousaf.Press and Journal · 5 Nov, 17:10
Swinney criticises UK move to ban new North Sea drillingThe first minister has told Holyrood fossil fuels will be required "for some years to come".BBC North East Orkney And Shetland · 5 Nov, 15:36

In this story: John Swinney · SNP · UK Government · Labour · North Sea · Shetland · Rosebank

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log