The next first minister has been urged to finally end Scottish Government support for the expansion of Heathrow Airport if they’re serious about the climate emergency.
The Lib Dems said the SNP’s support of controversial plans for a third runway at Heathrow was “simply not compatible” with emissions-cutting targets.
Party chief Alex Cole-Hamilton said the climate had been “shamefully neglected” during the Nats leadership contest by Humza Yousaf, Kate Forbes and Ash Regan.
And he told whoever succeeds Nicola Sturgeon to “rip up” a deal between Heathrow Airport and Scottish ministers.
A Scottish Government memorandum of understanding with Heathrow backing the proposed expansion includes a pledge of up to 16,000 new jobs north of the border and 75,000 additional flights between Scottish airports and London.
But the Scottish Liberal Democrats said this would generate nearly 600,000 tons of extra emissions by 2040 and hammer the country’s net zero ambitions.
Cole-Hamilton said: “Amid all the backstabbing and chaos of the SNP leadership race, the climate emergency has been shamefully neglected.
“It’s been clear for some time that expanding Heathrow is simply not compatible with Scotland’s climate change commitments. This expansion alone would produce more emissions than some small countries.
“Scottish Liberal Democrats are clear that we should be focusing on cheaper, better and faster rail services instead and spreading the benefits of international connections to regional airports rather than centralising yet more of our economy in the South East."
He added: “All three SNP leadership candidates need to say whether they will rip up the Heathrow deal and finally put some muscle behind Scotland’s pledge to tackle the climate emergency after years of missed targets and opportunities.”
Transport - including flying and shipping - is the biggest source of harmful emissions in Scotland, accounting for more than a third.
A report by expert advisers the Climate Change Committee said Scotland was falling behind the rest of the UK in decarbonising transport and had been “unwilling to consider measures” like restricting aviation growth.
Former economy secretary Keith Brown signed the memorandum with Heathrow in October 2016, with airport chiefs subsequently hosting receptions at SNP conference.
Nationalist MPs abstained on the Heathrow expansion vote in Westminster in 2018.
The airport’s expansion plans were put on hold due to Covid and a series of court cases. But Heathrow bosses are expected to set out renewed plans later this year.
The three SNP leadership candidates were contacted for comment.
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