NICOLA Sturgeon has accused the Tories of having short-changed the people of the north-east, amid claims the oil-rich region has been “robbed” of an eye-watering £1.77 billion.
The First Minister has said that the UK Government has failed the region’s oil workers, their families and its local economy with “broken promises and damaging cuts”.
She contrasted Westminster’s approach – which failed to deliver a carbon capture facility worth £1bn and to match SNP investments– with the SNP’s investment in a “just transition” from fossil fuels to sustainable energy.
READ MORE: North east won’t fall for the Tories’ gaslighting on energy
Visiting the new Greyhope Bay centre in Aberdeen today, the First Minister (below) will tell SNP councillors: “The Tories should be ashamed of the way they have let down families, communities and businesses across the region – with broken promises and damaging cuts.
"Probably the worst across Scotland after we take account of their broken promises on carbon capture and short-changing on City Deals.”
Figures show that the Tories failed to match Scottish Government spending commitments in the area, which the SNP say resulted in a shortfall of £254m – or £1125 per household across Aberdeenshire and the city.
A carbon-capture facility in the north-east was also promised in the 2015 Tory manifesto that the party said would have brought in £1bn to the local economy, however this was dropped and the project is now going ahead in the north of England.
The UK Government has also failed to meet the Scottish Government’s £500m Just Transition investment in the region.
Sturgeon will tell activists: “People in the north-east have been abandoned by the Tories time and again, and it’s time to let them know that they won’t get away with it.
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“They spend more time defending a Westminster government and Prime Minister who short-changes the region rather than standing up for the people of the north-east.
“These council elections are a chance for people across the north-east to send a clear message to the Tories – that they will not stand for it.
“The future for the north-east is bright, and I am proud that we are putting our money where our mouth is when it comes to ensuring a Just Transition from fossil fuels to sustainable energy.
She will add: “Scotland can seize the chance to lead on this and show the rest of the world how it’s done – the generations that follow will not forgive us if we don’t.
“The people of the north-east deserve councillors who will stand up for them – not councillors who are only interested in protecting
Boris Johnson and the broken, corrupt Westminster system that is failing their communities. On May 5, vote SNP for councillors who will fight for the thriving future that the north-east deserves.”
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