Meeting of the Parliament 12 November 2025
Scottish Labour has been clear that oil and gas will be part of Scotland’s and the UK’s energy mix for decades to come. We were clear about that in our election manifesto, in which we said that we would support existing licences. The Rosebank field has been previously licensed, and the Finch judgment means that environmental impact has to be properly considered—something that the UK Government is now acting on, as opposed to the previous Tory failure.
We need to reduce our dependence on volatile international markets for fossil fuels and accelerate a shift away from oil and gas. However, as we discussed in yesterday’s members’ business debate on the “Striking the Balance” report, we need joined-up thinking and action so that we deliver a fair transition for the workers who currently work in our oil and gas sector and support the work of our trade unions, which, over the years, have negotiated decent terms and conditions and pay for people in that sector. We also need to acknowledge the work of the Just Transition Commission and the Just Transition Partnership.
We need investment at Grangemouth; in our ports and harbours; in supporting the oil and gas sector to decarbonise its operations as it continues; in the manufacture of renewables kit in Scotland; and in making more energy efficient the shipping infrastructure that all our energy sectors use.
We have to make the most of Scotland’s huge potential in renewable energy. That means not just producing our electricity but maximising its use to power and heat our homes and buildings.