JOHN Swinney has stepped up his calls for Holyrood to be given control over energy, insisting it is the only way to end the current “Westminster rip-off”.
The Scottish First Minister said handing over energy powers would allow his Government to end the “hated” windfall tax on oil and gas – formally known as the energy profits levy.
He also said it would allow for “sensible licensing decisions” to be taken on new energy projects, and could cut bills for people across Scotland.
The call comes after the regulator Ofgem announced the energy price cap is to rise in July, and after MSPs backed a call for power over the sector to be transferred to Scotland – which Westminster rejected within minutes of the vote taking place.
He was speaking ahead of campaigning in Aberdeen – where much of the UK’s oil and gas industry is based – in the run-up to a Commons by-election.
The vote in Aberdeen South is taking place after former SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn won a seat at Holyrood earlier this month.
Energy is already a key issue ahead of the June 18 by-election, with Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch urging voters in the constituency to make it a referendum on the future of Scotland’s oil and gas sector.
The First Minister said: “Westminster’s energy rip-off of our country was in full view this week – Westminster controls Scotland’s energy, the UK Treasury rakes in billions from our seabed, and Scots are left paying the price with higher energy bills.
“£400 billion has been syphoned off from our North Sea and the only way to break that rigged energy equation is by putting Scotland’s energy into Scotland’s hands.
“Time and time again Westminster parties come to the north east not to talk about how they can support the industry, but how they can milk every last penny from Scotland while sending back nothing in return.
“Instead of Scotland’s energy working for Westminster, it’s time that our energy worked for our people.
“By putting Scotland’s energy in Scotland’s hands we can end the hated tax on our energy, we can take sensible licensing decisions based on Scotland’s needs, but most importantly we can lower bills for people living in our energy rich land.”
He vowed the SNP will “never stand by as Westminster casts workers in Aberdeen on the scrapheap”, with Mr Swinney saying the SNP could “protect the world-class oil and gas sector we have today and build another world-class renewables industry right by its side”.
Hitting out at his political rivals, the First Minister added: “We cannot allow Nigel Farage or the Tories to get their hands on our energy wealth here in Aberdeen South.
“Only the SNP can beat them both and ensure our natural resources are used to the benefit of the people of Scotland.”
While the Scottish Government has called for the windfall tax to be ended, Simon Francis, co-ordinator of the End Fuel Poverty Coalition, said voters from all parties support the levy.
Francis said: “Politicians may parrot the oil and gas lobbyists’ line that the windfall tax is hated, but the public disagrees.
“Polling in the run-up to the Scottish elections found voters across all parties supported the energy profits levy.
“What’s more, following revelations that the oil and gas industry made £3 billion in profits on UK operations in the first three months of 2026, three-quarters of the population felt it is morally wrong for oil and gas companies to profit from the energy crisis caused by the Iran war.”
Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay said: “John Swinney is fooling no-one with his desperate and dishonest nonsense. This is classic SNP grievance politics.
“Voters know that the SNP, just like Labour, oppose new drilling in the North Sea.
“The SNP demanded a windfall tax, Labour have extended it, while we would scrap it.
“Only the Scottish Conservatives can beat the SNP in Aberdeen South.”
