Douglas Ross has challenged the First Minister to drop her opposition to domestic oil and gas production to strengthen Scotland’s energy security – and deal a blow to Vladimir Putin.
At First Minister’s Questions, the Scottish Conservative Leader urged Nicola Sturgeon to update her Government’s energy strategy and support an increased use of Scotland’s natural resources to enable us to reduce our – and Europe’s – reliance on imported Russian oil and gas.
Douglas Ross pointed out that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has led to a renewed focus on energy security and highlighted that senior SNP figures, including Fergus Ewing and Ian Blackford, were urging their party to reconsider its opposition to further oil and gas extraction in Scottish waters.
He also called for an increased use of nuclear power – which the SNP-Green coalition also oppose – in Scotland’s energy mix.
Douglas Ross insisted Russia’s “despicable” attack on Ukraine meant now was a time for realism, rather than ideology, and he urged the First Minister to ignore the Scottish Greens.
Nicola Sturgeon, though, refused to back-track on her opposition to oil and gas or nuclear energy.
Scottish Conservative Leader Douglas Ross, said: “In Scotland, we have the natural resources to protect our own energy supply and even export to other countries, to reduce Europe’s dependence on Russian gas.
“Now is the time to maximise oil and gas production here, using the energy on our own doorstep.
“My party have consistently called on this Scottish Government to support Scotland’s oil and gas industry, but events of the last two weeks mean the need has become even more acute.
“The First Minister’s position doesn’t recognise the new reality. Russia’s despicable war has changed things. Scotland can deal a blow to Vladimir Putin by increasing domestic oil and gas production.
“Nicola Sturgeon opposes new oil fields being developed but renewables alone won’t satisfy our energy needs.
“My party supports the increased use of nuclear energy, which is low carbon and safe. It should be in Scotland’s energy mix if we want to stop relying on Russian oil and gas and move to net zero.
“It’s time to be practical and realistic – not ideological. Fergus Ewing and Ian Blackford recognise that. It’s time the First Minister stopped listening to the Scottish Greens, and did the same.”
