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Swinney criticises UK move to ban new North Sea drilling
First Minister John Swinney has rejected the UK government’s plan to stop new oil and gas exploration licences in the North Sea, saying domestic production may be reasonable while the UK continues using fossil fuels. The disagreement matters because the proposed Energy Independence Bill would end the UK regulator’s power to issue new licences, while the SNP says it will seek to remove that ban.
Swinney argued that projects could be considered if their emissions were lower than those from imported fuel, while stressing they must fit Scotland’s carbon reduction targets. This marks a shift from the Scottish government’s 2023 presumption against new drilling and drew criticism from Scottish Greens co-leader Gillian Mackay. The bill would still allow existing fields to expand within or near their boundaries; the UK government estimates this could yield about 60 million barrels and support hundreds of jobs. Rosebank, approved in 2022 and now facing legal challenges, is not affected by the proposed ban.
In short
- Swinney opposes the UK ban on new North Sea licences.
- The SNP plans to try to remove the ban from the bill.
- Existing fields could still produce an estimated 60 million barrels.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Supporters of ending new licences argue that the UK should not open new fields while it is committed to cutting emissions, and that predictable rules can encourage investment in clean energy. They may also question whether new North Sea production would meaningfully improve energy security, since oil and gas are traded in wider markets and the bill would still allow some existing fields to expand.
The case against
Opponents argue that, while the UK continues to use oil and gas, producing some of it domestically could reduce reliance on imports and support jobs and supply chains. They say individual projects should be judged against climate targets and their full emissions, including whether their output would displace more carbon intensive imports, rather than ruled out by a blanket ban.