An MP tipped to become the next SNP Westminster leader raised concerns about a windfall tax on energy giants profits.
Stephen Flynn claimed a stand-alone tax could hit jobs.
Labour MP Ian Murray said: “The worst kept secret in politics is favourite to be the next leader of the SNP.
“He is more interested in standing up for the profits of international energy companies than ordinary working people in Scotland.
“It is frankly disgusting that when so many Scots, including Mr Flynn’s own constituents, are unable to hear their own homes, that he wants to stand up for billionaires.
“Labour is gaining strength every single day, and SNP MPs are getting desperate because they know a Labour government is coming.”
Flynn, the MP for Aberdeen South, voiced his concerns during a debate in February on a Labour plan for a windfall tax on Big Oil.
The proposal would have targeted companies making eye-watering profits at a time when families are being charged huge sums for gas and electricity.
He said during the Westminster debate: “In relation to the specific proposal for a windfall tax put forward by the Labour party, what was missing from the contribution of the shadow Secretary of State and the Minister himself was the workers. What impact would it have on the workers?
“He failed to recognise that the last time the UK Government implemented a windfall tax, 10 years or so ago, investment in the North sea oil and gas sector plummeted. It fell off a cliff; in fact, it has never got back to where it was.
“If that happens again, what does it mean? It means that my constituents will lose their jobs. Some 35,000 jobs have gone in the past couple of years alone. The price of oil was barely scraping zero last year, yet the Opposition come forward to tell us that this tax is the right thing to do, notwithstanding any concerns about the impact it might have on investment in the North sea.”
Flynn, elected in 2019, is widely expected to become leader after Ian Blackford’s resignation.
A spokesperson for the SNP said: “Stephen Flynn MP has always supported a windfall tax. The SNP proposal was, and remains, more extensive than the Labour Party proposal and is more focused on Scotland’s interests.
“The SNP want to see big businesses like Amazon included in a windfall tax, and for more of the money taken from the North Sea windfall tax to be invested in Scotland and the north east of Scotland.
“In contrast, the Tories and Labour Party have repeatedly let big business off the hook, and are failing to support investment in Scotland.
“At the time of your February article, Stephen voiced concerns with the limited nature and unintended consequences of the Labour proposal.”
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