ANDY Burnham has pledged to “work with” the SNP amid fears investment worth up to £79 billion in Scottish industry could fall through.
Seamus Logan raised fears at Burnham's first Prime Minister’s Questions that an upcoming decision by the UK Government on a 25-year plan for the energy sector could imperil the ScotWind project.
Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh is set to decide on the Strategic Spatial Energy Plan, which Logan said would “shape how and when energy infrastructure is developed” in the coming decades.
The Aberdeenshire North and Moray East MP told the Prime Minister: “ScotWind is key to Scotland’s industrial future, it represents £78.5 billion of potential investment, part of an overall package that Crown Estate Scotland estimates could support more than 21,000 jobs.
“But the GMB union in Scotland has warned, among others this week, that the wrong pathway could deny energy transition opportunities for our world-class skilled and experienced Scottish energy workers and industries.
"So after the betrayal of the last administration at Grangemouth and Ardersier, can the Prime Minister commit today to selecting a pathway that enables the full ScotWind pipeline, including floating offshore wind and the grid investment to deliver Scotland’s energy potential?”
Burnham said he would collaborate with the SNP and said he planned to visit Scotland “soon” to understand the impact of the energy transition.
He said: “This is exactly what I’m talking about when I’m talking about supporting industrial transition, so that we can reindustrialise Scotland and other parts of the country so that we can make that transition work rather than being too ideological about it, as other parties are.
“So I will work with him, I intend to visit Scotland soon to look in detail at the issues in the Aberdeen community, because I know they’ve struggled with the impact of transition. Let’s see what we can do to build common cause and look at Grangemouth too, which could be the home of sustainable aviation fuel. I’m interested in making progress on all of these issues and I will work with him on that.”
Speaking after PMQs, Logan said that 21,000 jobs could fail to materialise if Westminster chose to “bypass ScotWind”.
He said: “Westminster’s crippling transmission charging regime is hammering Scottish offshore wind, their tax on Scotland’s energy is ruining supply chains and now we learn they might press play on plans that would destroy nearly £80bn of renewables investment.
“There is the potential to deliver 21,000 jobs here with unions and the industry warning Andy Burnham must choose the right path and commit to the enormous offshore wind potential in Scotland’s waters.
“Despite the colossal economic opportunity, workers and the wider industry are nervous that the Labour Party may bypass ScotWind, bypass our expertise and bypass Scotland’s energy future – a decision like would see us miss the opportunity inherent in the energy transition.
“Andy Burnham has declared his commitment to ‘good jobs in every community’ and to work with Scotland on building a better economy – if he can’t deliver on this, then he should get out of the way for a government that will and put Scotland’s energy in Scotland’s hands.”
