The Scottish Government seems to have decided there is political mileage in rekindling its love for the North Sea oil and gas industry as official figures cast fresh doubt on claims that a green bonanza is in prospect.
In a week dominated by the furore over speaker Lindsay Hoyle’s treatment of the party at Westminster, SNP leader Humza Yousaf stood accused of shameless hypocrisy after positioning himself as a defender of the North Sea oil industry.
In his guise as first minister Mr Yousaf savaged Labour for announcing plans to increase the windfall tax rate on North Sea firms, which industry leaders warn could put billions of pounds of investment at risk.
Echoing claims that the policy could cost thousands of jobs, Mr Yousaf told Holyrood that Labour planned to raid the north east energy industry to pay for nuclear power plants in England.
Conservative MSP Douglas Lumsden was probably not alone in feeling that it was a bit rich for Mr Yousaf to portray himself as the defender of the oil industry. In September the first minister expressed disappointment that the UK Government approved the Rosebank oil field development. The firm leading on the development, Equinor, reckons Rosebank could support 1,600 jobs in the construction phase and 450 when it becomes operational.
“He must think the people of the North East are buttoned up the back,” Mr Lumsden told MSPs regarding Mr Yousaf’s comments last week.
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It should be remembered that in the race to succeed former first minister Nicola Sturgeon Mr Yousaf positioned himself as the continuity candidate.
Ms Sturgeon opposed the Cambo oilfield development and presided over the development of an energy strategy which said there should be a presumption against new exploration in the North Sea. The strategy was released in draft form in January last year following delays.
Ms Sturgeon announced her resignation a month later after more than eight years in post.
Before taking over the job from Alex Salmond in 2014 Ms........