Starmer has ‘utterly failed’ to help Scots during energy ‘crisis’, Swinney says

Westminster has “failed” Scots on energy policy, First Minister John Swinney claimed, and the SNP leader said people were paying higher bills as a result of decisions made by UK ministers.

Mr Swinney accused the Labour Government at Westminster of “standing by and doing nothing” in the midst of the current energy crisis, during which action by the Gulf by the US and Israel, has caused oil and gas prices to surge.

He said Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer had “utterly failed in his responsibilities during a time of national crisis”.

Mr Swinney described Scotland as an “energy superpower”, with both renewable energy  resources and North Sea oil and gas, but blamed politicians in London for the “soaring costs” of  fuel.

But he said bills could be cut with the “fresh start of independence”, which would mean Scotland taking charge of energy policy instead of it being reserved to Westminster.

He was speaking as he prepared to visit a renewable energy project in Eastwood, outside Glasgow, in the run up to the Scottish Parliament election on May 7.

Mr Swinney said: “Scotland is an energy superpower. Whether through the North Sea or our extraordinary clean, renewable energy resources, we produce more energy than we need.

“Yet we pay higher bills than we should thanks to decisions taken in Westminster.

“It is frankly outrageous that Scotland is one of the most energy-rich countries in the world and yet we pay some of the highest energy prices.

“People are struggling to heat their homes and facing soaring costs at the petrol pumps in a nation with abundant resources. That demonstrates just how badly Westminster has failed.”

Speaking about the current “energy crisis” he said that “people in Scotland are looking for help with sky-high bills and petrol prices”.

But he claimed: “The UK Labour Government is standing by and doing nothing. This is a Labour Prime Minister that has utterly failed in his responsibilities during a time of national crisis.

“So let me be clear – if Westminster will not act to bring bills down, they should get out of the road and hand the powers to an SNP government that will.”

He added that “for decades” the UK Government had “squandered” North Sea revenues, adding: “We cannot afford to let them do the same to our vast renewable energy wealth.

“Scotland’s energy must work for Scotland’s people – and when Westminster takes the decisions, Westminster takes the wealth.

“With the fresh start of independence putting control over Scotland’s energy in Scotland’s hands, we can make our energy wealth work for Scotland and bring down bills.”

Gregor Poynton, Labour MP for Livingston said: “After nearly two decades of broken promises and bungled plans, no one believes a word John Swinney and the SNP have to say.

“The SNP sold off Scotland’s seabeds on the cheap, blocked investment in clean nuclear power and piled pressure on working Scots with tax hikes and unaffordable housing costs.

“This tired and complacent SNP government has no real answers to the challenges Scotland faces.

“The only way to deliver change for Scotland and make life more affordable is by voting Scottish Labour on May 7.”

A UK Government spokesperson said: “Families and businesses will be worried about the impact of conflict in the Middle East here at home.

“The government is determined to fight people’s corner.

“Our clean energy superpower mission is the route to energy sovereignty, lower bills and thousands of good jobs in our communities.”