A trade union leader has claimed Scottish Labour will lose seats over a “stupid” and “catastrophic” ban on new North Sea oil developments.
Gary Smith of the GMB said knocking back all future license requests would be seen as an “attack” on Scotland.
Keir Starmer is reportedly considering the policy as a way of meeting the country’s climate change commitments.
But it has sparked a backlash among trade unions worried it could put tens of thousands of workers on the dole.
Smith, the Edinburgh-born general secretary of the GMB, told the Record a ban could derail the Scottish Labour revival under Anas Sarwar.
He said: “If Labour don't get off the hook, the political fallout will be really significant across Scotland. You've got tens of thousands of workers whose jobs will be impacted.
“Without a shadow of a doubt, it will cost Labour seats in Scotland.
“Labour can't just focus on appealing to graduates in Edinburgh. Labour needs to bring back working class communities who've been badly let down now for generations in terms of quality jobs.
“This is utterly incoherent in terms of economic thinking.”
He added: “People in Scotland are listening to Labour again and I think that's a good thing. But the message from the UK Labour Party and the Scottish Labour Party is important.
“There has to be a positive message from Labour and people need to see that there is hope and a real purpose and point of voting for a Labour Government both at Westminster and in Holyrood.”
Recent polls have shown Labour significantly narrowing the gap with the SNP, with one poll suggesting they could win over 20 seats at the general election.
Smith, whose union makes sizeable donations to Labour, praised Sarwar by saying he was “getting into his stride” as leader and also gave the thumbs up to Starmer:
“They just need to get themselves off this stupid hook around oil and gas.”
He said of a ban on new oil and gas projects: “I think it would be pretty catastrophic for the oil and gas industry and for investor confidence in the UK.
“That position from the party is just plain wrong. It's bad for the environment, because it will mean more imports, it's bad for the economy. We are already spending twice as much as our defence budget on importing oil and gas. It will be absolutely calamitous in terms of jobs.”
We revealed last week that two Labour MSPs - Michael Marra and Pauline McNeill - had raised objections to UK Labour thinking on oil and gas.
A Scottish Labour spokesperson said: “Labour’s transformational plans will invest in the jobs and industries of the future and unleash Scotland’s potential as a world leader in renewables.
“Oil and gas production in the North Sea will be with us for decades to come, and we will work with the industry to ensure there is a phased and responsible transition.
“The skills and experience of oil and gas workers will be key to a successful transition and Labour will ensure that they are at the heart of our plans.”
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