We’ve powered UK for decades – now we’ve been slapped in face

Once again, the Acorn Project at St Fergus in Aberdeenshire – Scotland’s flagship carbon capture and storage (CCS) initiative – has been snubbed.

I’m angry. And you should be too. Make no mistake, this is a political choice. The UK fears not only our ambitions but our potential.

This isn’t the first time the Acorn Project has been sidelined. It feels like every time there’s a chance to invest in Scotland’s future, the UK Government manages to look the other way. They’ll talk a good game about a “just transition” and building a greener future but when push comes to shove, it’s England that gets the money, and we’re left with empty promises.

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The Acorn Project isn’t some pipe dream (excuse the pun) – it’s ready to go. St Fergus has the infrastructure. It’s uniquely placed to capture CO2 emissions from industry across Scotland and the wider UK, storing them safely beneath the North Sea. This is a project that could create up to 4700 well-paid, skilled jobs, helping us transition away from oil and gas without leaving workers behind. It’s about protecting livelihoods and giving the north-east a future in the energy sector.

This snub isn’t just about missing out on funding. It’s about what that funding represents. It’s a slap in the face for Scotland’s energy sector and for the communities that rely on it.

The UK Government is happy to take our oil and gas but when it comes to investing in the future, we’re an afterthought. And that’s just not good enough.

I’m tired of hearing about Westminster’s “commitment to Scotland” when the reality looks like this. The Acorn Project would be a game changer for the north-east – it would help to decarbonise our industries, keep skilled workers here and create new opportunities for young people who are desperate to stay and build their lives in Scotland.

The Scottish Parliament’s Net Zero, Energy, and Transport Committee has said it clearly – we won’t meet our climate goals without carbon capture and storage projects such as Acorn. And this isn’t only about Scotland’s ambitions. The whole UK benefits when we lead the way on technology such as CCS.

Yet here we are, waiting again while billions flow south. Every delay, every snub, costs us jobs, investment and time we don’t have. The rest of the UK is charging ahead while we’re left holding the bag.

This isn’t an isolated incident, it’s part of a wider pattern. Whether it’s energy, infrastructure, or economic development, Scotland is constantly being told to wait our turn. But how long are we supposed to wait?

The Acorn Project is just the latest example of how we’re being held back by a system that doesn’t work for us. It doesn’t matter who sits in government at the UK table. I’ve had enough of being told to settle for crumbs while Westminster throws cash at projects elsewhere.

(Image: PA)

The north-east has powered the UK for decades. Now we’re being asked to make the shift to net zero without the backing we need. We’re ready to take the lead on this transition but we need the tools and investment to do it.

Let’s face it, if Scotland had control over its future, the Acorn Project would already be funded and moving forward. We wouldn’t be waiting for a UK Government that doesn’t see Scotland’s potential. We’d be putting our people to work, building a greener economy, and making sure no-one is left behind. This isn’t grandstanding or party politics, it’s about the simple fact that Westminster doesn’t have Scotland’s best interests at heart.

If it did, we wouldn’t be fighting for scraps while other regions are handed billions.

We've seen it time and again, Scotland’s needs come second. And honestly, it’s hard to see how that will ever change as long as we remain tied to decisions made for us rather than by us.

We have the talent, infrastructure and ambition. What we don’t have is the power to make the decisions that will shape our future. And that’s exactly why independence matters now more than ever.

I won’t stop pushing for the Acorn Project. We need it. Our communities need it. Our future depends on it. This isn’t just about climate change, it’s about economic survival for the north-east. We can’t afford to let opportunities like this slip through our fingers because the UK Government doesn’t see us as a priority.

(Image: Phil Noble/PA Wire)

Scotland deserves better than this. We deserve the chance to invest in our future, to create good jobs, and to build a sustainable economy that works for all of us, not just for those south of the Border. And we deserve a government that will back us.

The truth is, we’ll never get that with Westminster calling the shots, and this won’t be the last time Scotland’s future is sacrificed. While independence is the long-term solution, we can and must still take steps now to ensure we don’t lose momentum.

I will be working closely with the Scottish Government, SSE, and other key stakeholders to ramp up pressure on the UK Government. We will be calling for an immediate review of its decision to exclude Acorn from funding and demand that Scotland’s needs be given equal consideration.

I’ll also push for cross-party support in the Scottish Parliament to ensure this issue stays front and centre – let’s see where our Tory and Labour colleagues’ loyalty lies – here in Scotland, or London.