A union boss has accused the SNP of hypocrisy in its approach to the oil and gas industry.
GMB general-secretary Gary Smith gave a rousing defence of the importance of continuing oil and gas investments – and took aim at a variety of political parties.
The “hypocrisy of the SNP and the Scottish Government on energy is staggering”, Mr Smith said.
He added: “There’s been a huge volte face on oil and gas.”
The Scottish Government has changed its approach to the fossil fuel industry in recent years and now has a “presumption” against new oil and gas projects.
The Saudi Arabia of renewables?
Mr Smith said: “You cannot turn an industry off and turn it on again. If you turn off oil and gas, it’s not coming back – and those skills will not come back.”
The SNP has in the past said Scotland could be the Saudi Arabia of renewables.
Mr Smith said progress on this was slow, adding: “The just transition commission has been running for years.”
Its members have “consumed more buffets at lunch-time than they have created jobs”, he continued.
If you turn off oil and gas, it’s not coming back – and those skills will not come back.”
“The jobs in the Scottish energy transition are all being done halfway round the world.”
GMB is a “critical friend” of the Labour Party, Mr Smith said.
He added: “I should say the Conservative Party has been a disaster. We will never slavishly follow a political party.”
Labour’s “green prosperity plan” has some “bold and imaginative” points, he said.
But GMB’s boss also attacked Labour’s planned move away from hydrocarbons.
“When we deindustrialised under Thatcher, we had offshore oil and gas. That absorbed a lot of the economic impact, it offered jobs. My challenge now is where’s your Aberdeen for renewables?”
Seizing hydrogen
Mr Smith was speaking at the Hydrogen for Life conference in London.
Hydrogen and carbon capture and storage are both areas the union official was positive about.
“If the UK has a strategic advantage” it is in those two areas, he said, adding: “My worry is that we surrender that advantage in the same way we did with nuclear and wind.”
There is a chance hydrogen can create jobs, export revenues and employment opportunities in the way oil and gas has, he said.
He described the nascent hydrogen sector as a “unique opportunity for this country and one we have to seize”.
And he warned communities are “sick” of hearing about opportunities that never materialise.
He continued: “I often say that if you want a job in renewables, get a job in the City of London.
“Hydrogen is an opportunity to develop manufacturing – let’s not surrender that.”
Investment from companies will play a part but government must provide clarity on policy, he said.
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