STEPHEN Flynn has accused the UK Government of “betrayal” – after they refused to match the Scottish Government’s investment to help move away from fossil fuels.
The Scottish Government has spent half a billion pounds in Aberdeen and the North East as part of its"just energy transition" towards renewables.
However, the SNP group Westminster leader revealed that Alister Jack – Secretary of State for Scotland – had said to him that the UK had no intention of matching the figure.
Flynn (below) appeared on Scotland’s Choice podcast – alongside host Drew Hendry – and said: “The UK Government have said they have no intention of match funding the £500 million and this is a complete betrayal.”
The Aberdeen South MP pointed out the fact that Scotland has given £350 billion to the UK Treasury.
The National previously ran a series on the McCone report, detailing how Norway has been able to create one of the best welfare states in Europe through its national oil fund.
Norway’s oil fund is worth more than a trillion dollars while the UK Government never set one up – despite oil being discovered in the North Sea as the early 1960s.
The oil and gas sector is in a period of transition, with many workers worried for their future, as oil is phased out to tackle the effects of climate change.
To combat this, the Scottish Government has spent £12 million on a Transition Training Fund – which will allow skilled oil industry workers to retrain in the green energy sector – with 87% of those partaking in the scheme finding new jobs.
The Scottish Government will create a £25 million National Transition Training Fund supporting up to 10,000 people facing redundancy and unemployment, including in those sectors and regions most exposed to the current economic downturn. #scotpfg pic.twitter.com/QRaqaIm0IF
— George Adam (@GeorgeAdam) September 1, 2020
The UK Government has also been criticised for leaving Aberdeen out of its carbon capture plans – with Flynn stating that the area was “ideally based for the scheme”.
Carbon capture is when carbon dioxide is separated from industrial sources, treated and transported for long-term storage.
The SNP MP argued the scheme was “key” is reaching Scotland’s net-zero targets.
Renewables met 97% of Scotland’s electricity demand in 2020, according to the Scottish Government.
Aberdeen is known as the oil and gas capital of the UK – however, Scotland is now a “world leader” in tidal power, hosting the European Marine Energy Centre.
