SNP accused of ‘shameless retreat’ on climate ideals over oil and gas | Scottish Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie criticised Kate Forbes after the deputy first minister suggested Holyrood had ‘never said no’ to new developments

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1. (Article)

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   The SNP has been accused of a “shameless retreat” from climate leadership after Kate Forbes claimed her party was not against new oil and gas licences in the North Sea.

   The Scottish Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie has criticised remarks made by the deputy first minister after she suggested the Scottish government had “never said no” to new developments, adding that a “climate compatibility test” would be necessary.

   Under the leadership of Nicola Sturgeon and Humza Yousaf, the presumption was against new licences. However, speaking to journalists on the campaign trail in Linlithgow, West Lothian, Forbes said her party had been “clear” that it was “not against” new licences.

   During a Holyrood debate on the issue, Màiri McAllan, the net zero secretary, confirmed this was the case, stating that while the UK government is in charge of approving licences, Scottish ministers wanted developments considered on a “case-by-case basis”.

   In Holyrood on Wednesday, Harvie accused the SNP of regressing under the leadership of John Swinney and Forbes. “The SNP are now back to their old ways,” he said. “Instead of accelerating action on climate, Kate Forbes today is quoted as saying, ‘We’ve been clear we’re not against new oil and gas licences’ and ‘We’ve never said no’.
   “This represents a shameless retreat from a position of climate leadership.”

   Swinney, the SNP leader, has yet to confirm his party’s position under his leadership but Forbes told journalists: “We’ve been clear that we’re not against new licences per se, but they have to meet a climate compatibility test.”

   McAllan said: “We are clear that the UK government must approach licensing on a rigorously evidence-based, case-by-case basis with robust climate compatibility and energy security being key considerations.”

   Douglas Lumsden, the Scottish Tory net zero spokesman, said it was “abundantly clear” the SNP and Labour were “selling our industry down the river”.

   He said: “They are doubling down on their positions of destroying the industry for future generations, with one promising crippling taxes and refusing to issue licences and the other failing to scrap its damaging presumption against new oil and gas.”

   The Scottish Labour MSP Daniel Johnson said the Scottish government was “pretending” its previous position against new licences “did not exist at all”. He added: “The reality is we have a confused position from both the Conservatives and the SNP.”

2. Are other countries still coming to us for advice, Màiri McAllan?

3. Snp are doing so many u turns even they don’t know what they believe in anymore 

4. Just listening to Flynn’s lies and bullshit at the debate just now.

5. I’m very much keen to stop us destroying the planet but the idea of hastily stopping any and all oil and gas production is just nonsensical