‘Sturgeon oil snub will end SNP’s bid for independence’
Salmond hits out after First Minister signals drilling U-turn
NICOLA Sturgeon’s decision to oppose new oil fields will end any prospect of Scotland becoming independent and cost the SNP tens of thousands of votes, Alex Salmond has claimed.
The former SNP leader launched an explosive attack on his successor for rejecting new oil drilling, including the Cambo field west of Shetland.
He also compared the party’s hopes of now winning votes in the North-East while led by Miss Sturgeon to Margaret Thatcher trying to secure votes in former Fife mining communities.
The SNP’s case for independence in 2014 was largely reliant on the potential revenue from oil and gas – although actual tax income has fallen dramatically short of its projections.
Mr Salmond previously said an independent Scotland would benefit from an ‘oil boom’, but now fears for facilities in Aberdeenshire and Stirlingshire.
He said of the oil industry: ‘With it we can lead the world in responsible production of our energy resources as a proud and independent country.’
‘Without it then it is not just farewell to tens of thousands of North-East of Scotland votes for the SNP. Much more seriously it’s Mossmoran no more, Grangemouth no more, St Fergus no more – and independence no more.’
On Tuesday, Miss Sturgeon confirmed for the first time she would oppose Cambo and other new oil fields. She said: ‘I don’t think we can go extracting more new oil and gas forever.
‘That’s why we’ve moved away from the policy of maximum economic recovery, and I don’t think we can continue to give the go-ahead to new oil fields.’
Writing in The Sunday Mail yesterday, Mr Salmond, leader of the Alba party, said Miss Sturgeon had ‘turned off the switch’ and warned the consequences ‘could be far reaching for the whole independence movement’. He said: ‘The immediate reaction is consternation in SNP ranks.
‘Even ultra loyalists in the North-East of Scotland are baulking at how to defend on the doorstep a party which effectively wants to shut down the area’s key industry.
‘It would be akin to Margaret Thatcher, having closed the pits, then campaigning for votes in the old mining areas of Cowdenbeath and Kelty.
‘The second consequence is even more serious and is for the case for independence itself.
‘Oil and gas have... been a symbol of the vast resource base of Scotland, which help make us such a solid economic prospect as an independent state.
‘For the leader of the independence campaign to casually cast aside that card represents a stunning backwards step.’
He also questioned how the SNP Government could fund a ‘just transition’ to renewables.
Mr Salmond said: ‘There is an old saying in the national movement that most countries got filthy rich from discovering oil and gas but Scotland might just get filthy.’
An spokesman for the SNP said: ‘It is time for politicians of all colours to get real on the climate emergency.
‘Our journey to tackling climate change involves a just transition from fossil fuels.
‘Mr Salmond would do well to put the same effort into demanding an answer as to why the Tory UK Government snubbed investment in carbon capture in the North-East, which would have brought a share of £1billion of investment and secured tens of thousands of jobs.
‘In the SNP’s manifesto in May we committed to delivering a just transition and were elected with a record number of votes to implement that.’
‘It is a stunning step backwards’