PMQs: Sunak hits back at Blackford's energy plan criticism
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Nicola Sturgeon’s dreams of an Independent Scotland have been dealt a fresh blow after a new poll showed a majority of Scots backed being a part of the UK for its green energy plans. Scotland’s renewable energy-rich resources have quickly become a critical part of the SNP pitch for independence. Politicians including Michael Matheson, Scotland’s Energy Secretary, has hailed green energy sources like wind and hydrogen as being at the heart of the party’s plan to launch a second Independence Referendum. Scotland is already a major producer of clean electricity, with 62 percent of the power produced coming from renewable sources.
The poll breakdown
But a new poll has revealed a majority of Scottish voters would prefer to remain as part of the UK as they believe it is easier for Scotland to transition away from oil and gas to renewable and cleaner energy sources.
The survey, commissioned by the Conservative Environment Network (CEN), revealed that more than half of Scottish voters (52 percent) think being a part of the Union makes it easier for Edinburgh to fund new green energy projects.
About 56 percent believe that being a part of the UK helps with energy trade, 55 percent hail the Union’s benefits for upgrading clean energy infrastructure and just over half (51 percent), believe that it bolsters the development of new green technologies.
Liam Kerr, Scottish Conservative Cabinet Member for Net Zero, Energy, and Transport and MSP for North East Scotland, said: “Scotland can lead the global energy transition because it is easier to secure investment and to trade as part of the United Kingdom.
“We can already see the benefits of the Union for unlocking investment in our world-leading offshore wind sector, which is providing cheap power and thousands of skilled jobs across the UK.
“Having long been Europe’s oil and gas capital, Aberdeen and the North East can also become the continent’s net zero powerhouse at the forefront of new industries like floating offshore wind and carbon capture. It’s good to see Scottish voters recognise this vision can only be realised as one United Kingdom.”
CEN also found that a plurality of Scottish voters (44 percent) think it’s easier to achieve net zero emissions as part of the UK, while only 31 percent believe delivering the transition would be easier for an independent Scotland.
Last year, the eyes of the world were on Scotland, as the UK held the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow. In the survey, nearly half (49 percent) believed that by being a part of the UK, Scotland could host another global climate change summit.
This is compared to the 22 percent of Scottish voters who believe that being an independent country make it more likely for Scotland to host another such event.
Meanwhile, overwhelming three-quarters of Scottish voters said that in light of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, we need to accelerate the UK’s transition to renewable energy.
In addition, nearly two-thirds (63 percent) believe that achieving net zero will be good for Scotland’s economy with 54 percent thinking that the Government should encourage energy companies to transition to renewable energy.
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Sam Hall, director of the Conservative Environment Network, said: “Net zero is easier as one United Kingdom. By pooling our financial resources, trading renewable energy freely, and speaking as one loud voice on the global stage, the United Kingdom can be a more effective champion of climate action than if the country was broken up. Climate action is one of many reasons why we are better together.”
Energy has played a major role in the SNP’s push for Scottish Independence, as Ian Blackford, the party’s Westminster leader recently saying that energy-rich Scotland would no longer have to share with the UK, resulting in stronger energy security and smaller bills.
Addressing the SNP Conference in Aberdeen, Mr Blackford said: “We know the scale of the opportunities that independence will offer. But we only have to look at the current context. Scotland is energy-rich – we simply shouldn’t be facing an energy emergency.
“We shouldn’t have cold homes and soaring bills. We produce six times more gas than we consume and nearly 100 percent of the equivalent of our electricity consumption already comes from renewables. This is Scotland’s energy and it should serve Scotland’s people.”
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