Ash Regan: There's only one way to end Great Scottish Energy Swindle

The economic vandalism of shutting the Grangemouth refinery, coupled with the plight of vulnerable pensioners fearful of the rising cost of heating their homes this winter, underscores the pressing need for action for secure, affordable energy.

We need a long-term industrial strategy that optimises our resources for our people and economic sustainability from Scotland’s abundant energy generation potential. For more than 50 years, the expertise at Grangemouth and in the North Sea oil and gas sectors has been pivotal to innovation and wealth generation on these islands and beyond.

We must now shift our mindset from managing declining industries to making the most of domestic and global opportunities to transition resources and jobs to the emerging decarbonised energy sector.

A long-term Scottish energy strategy would provide a clear direction for investment in a globally competitive industry, offering a sure footing for our communities and businesses and lucrative export revenue streams for an independent Scotland.

This will require serious re-investment in the skills and innovation of the industry that created so much wealth for a UK that has continually turned its back on Scotland’s ambition.

I welcome MSP Michelle Thomson’s impassioned resolve to champion progress for her Grangemouth constituents, pushing for a “pause” to the closure plans at last week’s FMQs.

Any action from Holyrood for a positive outcome further highlights a missing-in-action UK Labour Government that has ignored pleas from Unite the Union to act. Join us at the Keep Grangemouth Working rally at Holyrood at 11am on Thursday to raise our collective voices to save this strategic national asset.

My frustration in Holyrood is that after firing the independence starting gun in 2014, a sustainable future for such assets has yet to be secured by a nationalist government that was not elected to settle for devolved power.

Meet your new Government, same as the old one

THE new Labour Government mirrors the old Tory one in its lack of care or understanding of Scotland’s geography, demographics, or economic make-up. We need Scotland-specific long-term thinking.

To inspire and engage as we did in 2014 will take a vision of ambition with transparent accountability in delivering solutions that matter to people in increasingly trying times.

Despite widespread shock at Labour’s anti-growth Budget being followed by the pound plummeting in step with winter temperatures, there is no sign of the Prime Minister or Chancellor relenting in their resolve to balance the UK Budget on the backs of our pensioners, public services and high-volume employers.

This fingers-in-the-ears approach has left voters cold, with the latest Westminster polling showing Labour trailing the Tories, and Reform nipping at both their heels.

As we grit our paths this winter, we should save a large pinch of salt to take with any new pronouncements from Labour if their “no National Insurance increase” election manifesto pledge is anything to go by.

The impact on Scottish public services of the UK Government’s employer NI contributions hike was debated last week in Parliament. While I supported the Scottish Government’s call for urgent clarity on a £500 million reimbursement for public service employers in Scotland, it didn’t go far enough.

READ MORE: Majority of Scottish businesses support fossil fuel phase-out, new figures show

With the threshold lowered and the rates hiked, the cost of employment ramped up for businesses, public services and third-sector organisations while Labour continued to preach its mantra of “growth”.

Scottish Labour’s vacant benches during the debate looked like the losers of a spin the bottle contest on who would defend their London bosses’ positions from their first Budget in a generation.

I implored Scottish Labour to get their party to think again to protect jobs and promote growth in Scotland’s critical SME economic backbone and our vital services.

Jackie Baillie’s somewhat prickly performance indicated her struggle to defend the indefensible through deflection and gritted teeth.

The irony of Anas Sarwar’s untenable position of fighting a Holyrood election in 2026 on a platform to reverse his UK party’s Budget positions leaves Scottish Labour as a metaphor for Westminster exploiting Scotland’s resources while our people’s needs are ignored.

Magic beans for Scotland’s energy cash cow won’t cut it

WHILE Scotland’s energy situation continues to be criminally mismanaged under Labour, the final slap in the face is that we are expected to be grateful for a GB Energy nameplate in shared offices in Aberdeen while the Salford-based chairman makes occasional visits. Meanwhile, we look across the North Sea to Norway’s trillion-dollar Sovereign Wealth Fund. Ever feel we have been mugged?

Scotland must wake up now to ensure our renewable sector does not go the same way as oil and gas. The bargain bourach of the first round of ScotWind offshore wind leasing must also be learned from if we are to step up and grab Scotland’s promising energy future. We have no excuse left for inaction. The UK’s game is up.

Octopus Energy CEO Greg Jackson said Scotland could have the cheapest electricity in Europe if the UK switched to regional (zonal) energy pricing to ensure prices are based on local supply and demand. But what political incentive does any UK government have to make energy cheaper in a country which makes up only 8% of the UK population?

The Alba Party’s energy ambitions go even further for an independent Scotland. By focusing on the root causes of problems – and the potential of opportunities – new thinking on solutions emerges. Innovation is what made Scots pivotal in the global energy sector for more than 50 years and can be achieved again with the right focus and support.

Addressing the Great Scottish Energy Swindle is up to us – it always has been. If we want an empowered future that functions optimally for those who live and work here, we must vote to make it happen.