THE Labour Party have been mocked after pledging to introduce a policy which the Scottish Government is already bringing in.
Stephen Flynn accused Labour of paying “little attention to the north east” after shadow Scottish secretary Ian Murray announced proposals for an “offshore skills passport” – something already in development in Scotland.
Speaking to workers and businesses in Aberdeen on Wednesday, Murray said Labour would introduce the policy if they win the election on July 4, to allow workers to move between fossil fuels and renewables.
Offshore workers may currently need to duplicate training when moving between the two sectors, increasing costs and the length of time it takes to change jobs.
Flynn (below), the SNP's candidate for Aberdeen South, said: “In news that will shock thousands, the Labour Party pay so little attention to the north east that they don’t even seem to know that the Scottish Government is already funding the development of a skills passport.”
He added: “Given that what the Labour Party should be announcing today is a withdrawal of their destructive energy plans that would see up to 100,000 job cuts – the SNP will continue to oppose those plans and put Scotland’s interest first.
“We need the economy of the north east to thrive for decades to come and that only happens if we utilise the skills and wealth of talent within the oil and gas sector to power and develop our huge renewables potential.
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“If we don’t get the transition right or follow the plans of the Labour Party then we will lose out on investment to other countries across the globe – that would be a betrayal of Scotland’s energy potential.”
Ahead of his visit to the north east of Scotland, Murray said: “Oil and gas jobs are going to be with us for decades to come.
“Labour will support our world class, world leading offshore workforce with the recognition they deserve and support the transition to renewables jobs in the future.
“The industry is rightly asking for a plan for jobs, and this is a part of delivering that.
“This is an area the UK Government and Scottish Government can and should work in partnership to deliver for Scotland and harness the potential we have to truly lead the world in renewables jobs.
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“It should be easier to switch between oil and gas and renewables work offshore.
“The present situation, where training in one industry isn’t recognised in the other, cuts off opportunities for oil and gas workers. The fact some workers are paying out of their own pockets is scandalous.”
The policy would “cut red tape”, he added, and would allow offshore workers to “move flexibly back and forth between both industries in the years and decades to come”.
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