SNP threatens to vote against UK ban on new oil and gas

Summarised from The Herald's report · Updated 5 Nov, 18:21 · Archive

John Swinney has instructed SNP MPs to vote against the UK Government's Energy Independence Bill unless provisions banning new North Sea oil and gas licences are removed.

John Swinney has said the Scottish Government does not support the UK Government's bid to ban new oil and gas licences in the North Sea. He has instructed SNP MPs to vote against Andy Burnham's Energy Independence Bill unless the ban is removed, putting the Scottish Government on a collision course with Labour over the plan.

Swinney told MSPs that fossil fuels would be needed 'for years to come'. The move marks a further shift away from the position set out by Nicola Sturgeon in 2023, when the Scottish Government's draft energy strategy included a presumption against new oil and gas exploration. The draft legislation would remove the North Sea Transition Authority's power to grant new licences, in line with Labour's manifesto pledge. Existing fields could still produce extra oil from within their current boundaries or nearby areas.

Read the report

• Swinney to instruct SNP MPs to vote against UK Government ban on new oil and gasJohn Swinney has put the Scottish Government on a collision course with Labour over its plan to ban new North Sea oil and gas licences with SNP MPs threatening to vote against the Energy Independence Bill unless the provisions are removed.The Herald · 5 Nov, 16:45

In this story: John Swinney · Scottish National Party · Labour · North Sea · Nicola Sturgeon · Andy Burnham

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