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SNP’s Stephen Flynn attacks Labour’s North Sea VAT plans

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video subtitles, Stephen Flynn said on the BBC programme Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg that the move away from oil and gas must be “sustainable”

  • Author, Paul O’Hare
  • Role, BBC Scotland News

The SNP leader in Westminster attacked Labour’s plans for a special tax on the North Sea and assured that his party was committed to a “fair and sustainable” future oil and gas industry.

Stephen Flynn said Labour’s proposal for a temporary special tax on fossil fuel companies would lead to “100,000 job losses”.

Sir Keir Starmer wants to increase the special tax on fossil fuel companies from 75 percent of excess profits to 78 percent and at the same time extend it until 2029.

The Conservatives last week described the proposals as “based on fantasy”, while Labour said the government had not made enough progress in the transition to renewable energy.

Flynn also denied that the SNP had given up on independence and announced that it would be the opening line of its manifesto when it was published.

Last week, Scottish politicians engaged in a heated exchange over the future of the North Sea oil and gas industry in the first televised debate of the general election.

When asked in Peterhead about the SNP softening its stance on new oil and gas licences, Flynn said: “We believe in a just and sustainable transition that secures the future jobs of the tens of thousands of people who live behind me.”

He added that the party would create “the new net zero jobs of tomorrow” and accused Labour of trying to “destroy” 100,000 jobs.

Flynn also condemned Labour’s decision to abandon its policy of spending £28 billion annually on its green investment plan.

And he accused the Conservatives of becoming “almost climate deniers.”

Flynn was challenged over his criticism of Labour’s plans for a 78% tax on North Sea energy companies.

A special tax punishes companies that profit from something for which they are not responsible.

Image description, Labour MP Ian Murray said the SNP was active “across the board” when it came to jobs and safety in the energy sector.

Flynn said the additional revenue from Labour’s plans would not lead to a reduction in energy costs, but rather “will flow into nuclear power projects in England”.

He added that the employment figures had been calculated by independent investment experts and that the Unite union had said this would result in workers being “thrown on the trash heap”.

Flynn said: “We need to make sure we have a just transition that allows us to achieve our climate goals.”

Labour’s Ian Murray later said the SNP had “zero credibility” on economic issues and was “completely confused” when it came to jobs and security in the energy sector.

He said: ‘Stephen Flynn thinks a nurse earning £29,000 a year should pay more tax, but the oil and gas giants with their billion-dollar profits should not.

“This is nonsense from a party that cannot give a clear answer on the issue of oil and gas.”

Murray said the Labour Party would create GB Energy based in Scotland and transform the country into a “clean energy superpower”.

Patrick Harvie, co-leader of the Scottish Greens, told BBC Scotland’s Sunday Show that he wanted to move away from fossil fuels “as quickly as possible”.

He also argued that fossil fuels were “a thing of the past” and called for a focus on renewable energy.

Last week, Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross said neither the SNP nor the Labour Party would protect the North Sea industry.

During a STV leaders’ debate, he said the SNP was opposed to new oil and gas licenses and accused Labour of having “dangerous plans” for the industry.

Mr Ross also referred to a report by the Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce.

She criticised the SNP and Conservatives’ energy policies, but said Labour could “make the situation even worse” by extending the Tories’ special tax on oil and gas profits and cutting some tax breaks for investments.

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