Two candidates in the race to become the next leader of Scottish Labour have publicly backed the approval of the Jackdaw and Rosebank oil and gas projects, adding further pressure on the UK Government to make an early decision on the developments.
Michael Marra MSP, the current Scottish Labour finance spokesman and North East Scotland MSP, declared his support on social media, saying the party must back domestic production alongside skilled jobs and energy security.
Mr Marra posted: 'Energy is at the heart of my work with industry, Treasury, DESNZ, trade unions and employers as North East MSP.
'Labour must represent all of Scotland. Protect well paid skilled jobs. Strengthen our energy security. I support domestic oil and gas, including Rosebank and Jackdaw.'
Fellow leadership contender, Joe Fagan, also pledged to continue lobbying the UK Government until both projects are approved.
Mr Fagan said: 'Scotland's oil and gas workers deserve a champion. I will not stop lobbying the UK Government until Jackdaw and Rosebank are approved and the jobs linked to these projects are protected.'
He also urged ministers to move faster on workforce support.
Mr Fagan said: 'There will be no just transition if the workers and communities who built Scotland's energy industry are told to carry the cost of change themselves. This is not about freezing Scotland's economy in the past. It is about protecting highly skilled jobs while investing in the future.
'Oil and gas will continue to form part of Scotland's energy mix for years to come. The question is whether we support Scottish jobs and Scottish industry or import more of the energy we need while allowing our skills and supply chains to disappear.'
The interventions come at a pivotal moment for the North Sea, following BP's announcement last week that it intends to market its UK upstream business as part of a wider strategic review.
Jackdaw and Rosebank were both granted consent under the previous Conservative government before their environmental approvals were quashed by the courts. Revised environmental impact assessments have since been submitted, with fresh decisions now awaited from the UK Government.
The comments also follow Prime Minister Andy Burnham's recent pledge to take a 'pragmatic approach' to the North Sea, saying the Government 'can't ignore' the UK's remaining oil and gas resources.
Source: Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce
