As an MSP for the North East of Scotland, I represent a region which is at the sharp end of Scotland’s energy and emissions policy.
Aberdeen and the North East are the beating heart of our energy industry – but like the canary in the coalmine, we’ve been bearing the brunt of the SNP’s senseless net zero policies for years.
Labour and the SNP’s opposition to oil and gas is hammering our local economy and risking tens of thousands of North Sea jobs, while the SNP’s lofty promises on green jobs have simply never materialised.
Across the region, local communities are up in arms over proposals to build vast super-pylon highways, yet planning continues regardless of residents’ objections.
Farmers are facing the prospect of culling cattle and sheep to meet emissions goals. And homeowners in rural areas are worried they’ll have to foot the bill for expensive heat pumps to replace off-grid boilers.
All in an attempt to meet targets that the latest Climate Change Committee report makes clear we don’t have a hope of reaching anyway.
It’s time we took a pragmatic approach to net zero and energy – one that doesn’t sacrifice the North East or pile costs on ordinary households.
One that gives communities a voice, protects jobs and, crucially, brings down bills. That is the common-sense approach the Scottish Conservatives are putting forward.
We recognise the need for oil and gas, nuclear and renewables in our energy mix. We believe that we cannot save our environment by scarring our natural landscape.
And we want Scots to see direct benefits from investment in Scotland’s energy industry, through lower energy bills.
These are the proposals set out in this document – a common-sense approach to net zero that trades in unachievable targets for pragmatic solutions.
You can read the policy paper here.
