Blackford faces new backlash in row over go-ahead for oil field
Hint at support for development as SNP ‘dithers’
THE SNP’s Westminster leader has signalled his support for a controversial new North Sea oil field, despite his party’s alliance with the Greens.
Ian Blackford claimed it ‘would make more sense’ for Scotland to use ‘domestic resource’ rather than importing fuel.
Nicola Sturgeon has yet to decide whether or not the Cambo field, just off Shetland, should get the go-ahead.
But earlier this year she wrote to Boris Johnson asking that the licence already issued should be reviewed.
The move sparked anger among campaigners for and against the new field, with both sides saying Miss Sturgeon had not gone far enough to support or oppose drilling in the North Sea.
Speaking to BBC Scotland’s The Sunday Show, Mr Blackford was asked whether or not he supported the Cambo development.
He said: ‘Well, obviously what the Scottish Government has asked is for that to be reassessed based on where we are today. We want to make sure that we reduce our carbon footprint.
‘We need to recognise COP26 is coming up here, the responsi
‘Let’s drive down demand’
bilities that we have. We need to reduce our dependence on oil, we need to make sure we can transition to green sources, we have to replace plastics through renewable sources and so on – that is what we should be focusing on.’
But when it was put to him that Stephen Flynn, the SNP’s energy spokesman, had said that while there was demand the country should look to use domestic resources rather than importing from other countries, Mr Blackford said he agreed.
However, the Ross, Skye and Lochaber MP said he was clear ministers must help to drive down demand and transition away from fossil fuels. He added: ‘I agree with Stephen, let’s drive down demand so we don’t need fossil fuels. Until we get to that point it would make more sense for us to use our domestic resource rather than import.
‘But I want us to get to a position that we do not need mineral oil.’
Asked whether the SNP was waiting until the COP26 UN climate change summit was over before expressing support for Cambo, Mr Blackford insisted: ‘No, we’re not delaying until COP is over.’ The summit, from October 31-November 12, will see world leaders descend on Glasgow to discuss measures to tackle climate change.
Scottish Labour energy spokesman Monica Lennon said: ‘The SNP must stop dithering and come off the fence.
‘We can’t deliver a just transition with more of the same.
‘Cambo would do untold damage to the environment and won’t deliver sustainable economic benefits. It beggars belief that the SNP and the Greens refuse to stand firm in opposition to these reckless plans.’
Mr Blackford was also asked about previous claims from the Scottish Government that Scotland would be the ‘Saudi Arabia of renewables’ with 130,000 jobs in the industry.
Questioned whether some blame for the slow progress on renewables should be put on the Government, he said: ‘No. We have been held back... because of the regulations that come from Westminster.’
Scottish Conservative energy spokesman Liam Kerr said: ‘Scotland could have a hugely successful renewables sector functioning right now, but the SNP’s strategy to deliver jobs has been practically non-existent.’