SNP split on future of the North Sea... as John Swinney sits on fence

Major splits have opened up within the SNP on North Sea drilling – while John Swinney continues to sit on the fence. Transport Secretary Stephen Flynn – seen as a possible future SNP leader – opened the party’s conference in Aberdeen by talking up the importance of taking full advantage of the North East’s energy potential. Aberdeen Central MSP Jack Middleton also demanded the party adopts a new position prioritising domestic resources over foreign imports. Their support comes as the conference is scheduled to debate a controversial amendment demanding an increased windfall tax on the oil and gas sector, while the First Minister continued to refuse to say whether he thinks the giant Jackdaw and Rosebank fields and other new developments should get the go-ahead. In his opening address, Mr Flynn, who represents Aberdeen Deeside and North Kincardine, urged members to take a walk by the nearby coast ‘to see Scotland’s energy wealth in action’. He highlighted ships going in and out of the harbour, helicopters flying workers out to rigs and the world’s largest floating wind farm , and told delegates to ‘ask why that wealth does not flow into every home in Scotland.’ Stephen Flynn spoke about taking full advantage of the resources in the North Sea, while John Swinney has yet to take a side The SNP party conference is set to debate an amendment to increase the windfall tax on oil He added: ‘Ask why people will this winter once again choose between heating and eating, and ask why we would possibly export our jobs and import energy from across the world, when it already exists on our doorstep.’ On the BBC’s Debate Night programme, Mr Middleton said he wanted to ensure the SNP’s conference backs domestic oil and gas drilling. He said: ‘Frankly, we need domestic resources, we need to prioritise using our domestic resources over foreign imports right now.’ But the SNP trade union group has proposed an amendment to be debated on Friday which demands increased UK Government ‘profit levies on fossil fuel extractors and on polluting industries to match the social cost of the pollution caused by these activities’. Asked on BBC Radio Scotland Breakfast if he agreed with Mr Middleton about prioritising domestic resources, Mr Swinney said: ‘The point that Jack Middleton makes is that we will be relying upon oil and gas for decades to come, that could well be imported, we have to assess whether developments in our domestic jurisdiction will deliver lower or higher carbon emissions than the imported oil and gas that we may depend upon, and that is the basis of the judgement the United Kingdom government needs to make.’ Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay said: ‘We constantly hear John Swinney spouting his opinions on a vast range of reserved matters, yet he refuses to say if he backs new North Sea drilling. ‘Whether he thinks Rosebank and Jackdaw should proceed is a very simple question, but he won’t give a straight answer.’