HUMZA Yousaf has said that Scotland should have an “equity stake” during the next round of ScotWind seabed leasing.
Speaking at the second SNP hustings event in Glenrothes, the candidates were quizzed about The National’s McCrone Report coverage and on what they would do make sure Scotland benefitted from its renewable energy wealth.
Kate Forbes proposed a sovereign wealth fund for renewables while Ash Regan said that more needed to be done to secure long-term investment for companies innovating in Scotland’s energy sector.
However, Humza Yousaf said that the Scottish Government should have an “equity stake” during the next round of ScotWind seabed leasing and proposed a national renewable energy company.
He said: “If I’m leader, for a future ScotWind round, I don’t think we should just lease, I think we should take an equity stake, so that if companies are benefiting, then that profit, that benefit is coming to us.
“I will instruct for the next round an equity stake in our renewables.”
His campaign confirmed that a stake of 10% in each project would be insisted upon, but total revenue would be dependent on the output of future projects.
During the first round Scottish Government leased portions of the seabed to energy companies for the installation of floating wind farms, netting £700 million in fees for the projects.
The three candidates were also asked about what they would do to convince people who voted against independence in 2014 to come round to the cause.
Kate Forbes answered first and said that the party needed to “sharpen up” its focus on the economy and see the economic policies it enacts in government as a political tool.
“This is all, for me, about how we unlock the potential of Scottish industries and how we support our small businesses in particular.
“Because they are the ones that will drive growth, create jobs and expand the tax base.
“With an expanded tax base, we are then able to reinvest in our public services. So, I think the decisions that we make now really matter.”
Ash Regan said that there were a few key issues in 2014 that led to people being too “scared” to vote Yes.
To remedy this she proposed a “national commission” that would “put in place everything Scotland needs in order to run as an independent country”.
She also proposed a “readiness thermometer”.
“The idea is you have an actual installation – a readiness thermometer – we could put it up in Glasgow or in Edinburgh and it can be outside.
“And it has a dial on it that moves. So, when we’ve, say, made all the plans for the currency or we’ve set up how we’re going to do something with the defence, that dial will move, it will inch forward.
“The media can look at it, everyone can look at it, and it builds that confidence with the public. So, that when get up to 100%, every in Scotland knows that we’ve solved all these problems.”
Pensions were highlighted as an issue by Humza Yousaf as an issue where the Yes campaign “lost people” in 2014.
He said that his aim as leader would be to arm activists with material that gives them the information they need "on currency, on pensions, on borders" and said he would create a “rebuttal unit” within the party’s HQ to tackle misinformation about independence in the media.
Later, the candidates were asked whether they would agree to organising a national convention that would bring politicians together with party members to discuss the way forward for a fresh independence campaign.
All three agreed to engaging with members and the public to win support for independence.
Humza Yousaf said that a “civic-led” movement was the best way to convince others of the merits of independence.
“Independence isn’t going to be won by political leaders of different political parties sitting in a room devising strategies.
“Independence is won doorstep by doorstep. I’m a son of this party. My father joined in 1974 and I’ve been in the party for over 16 years.
“There’s no shortcut to winning elections. Everybody here who’s been elected [knows] that you win it by graft. You win it by getting out there and talking to people. And we will only do that if we are a civic-led movement.”
Kate Forbes said that while she agreed to the convention, she felt the party needed to “transform the way that branch members and activists shape policy.”
“It’s not just that independence is too important to be left to elected representatives,” she said.
“[It’s that] our vision is poorer if we don’t empower every individual member of this party when it comes to informing policy.”
Ash Regan said that the grassroots campaign in 2014 was “an incredible resource” and that her proposed convention would welcome all independence supporters and unite the movement.
