\n The SNP<\/a> pointed out that under Labour and Starmer, the UK Government<\/a> closed Grangemouth<\/a> oil refinery, \u201cdestroyed thousands of Scottish energy jobs, blocked devolution and disrespected Scotland’s right to choose our own future with independence\u201d.\n<\/p>\n \n It comes as the Scottish Greens<\/a> challenged Burnham to make clear he will not support any new oil and gas licences in the North Sea<\/a>.\n<\/p>\n \n READ MORE:<\/strong> Scottish human rights watchdog sued by own executive in gender-critical dispute<\/a>\n<\/p>\n \n In the past week, reports have suggested that the incoming prime minister is set to sign off on drilling in the North Sea, despite Labour\u2019s manifesto not to grant any further licences.\n<\/p>\n \n US president Donald Trump<\/a> celebrated the reports on his social media site Truth Social, claiming that people in Aberdeen<\/a> will be \u201cdancing in the streets\u201d.\n<\/p>\n \n Burnham has not confirmed any of the reports, but is expected to make several policy announcements on Monday after he officially becomes prime minister.\n<\/p>\n \n The SNP have also called on Burnham to deliver an emergency cost of living budget to reverse the damage made by the Labour Government.\n<\/p>\n \n Writing in the Sunday Mail<\/a>, Burnham said: \u201cI\u2019m determined to make sure I use every lever I can to make life better.\n<\/p>\n \n \n \u201cPeople who know a place should have real power in shaping their future.\n<\/p>\n \n \u201cFrom Aberdeen to Stornoway, from Dumfries<\/a>, to Orkney<\/a> and Shetland<\/a>, my mission is clear. Restoring hope and driving growth through a clear, confident, authentically Labour direction. The future we\u2019ll pave together will be rooted in fairness and will ensure local people are in the driving seat.\u201d\n<\/p>\n \n In 2024, outgoing Prime Minister Starmer made a similar claim<\/a> ahead of the General Election.\n<\/p>\n \n \u201cA Labour government will take Scotland in a different direction and give people hope for the future,\u201d he said.\n<\/p>\n \n \u201cLabour will stop families paying over the odds for energy. Great British Energy, our new publicly owned energy company, will invest in homegrown clean energy to boost energy independence and cut bills for good.\n<\/p>\n \n \u201cWhen I say let\u2019s get Britain\u2019s future back, we say it with one voice. Scotland is at the beating heart of that mission.\u201d\n<\/p>\n \n READ MORE:<\/strong> Nigel Farage backer opened payments account before ‘mystery donation’<\/a>\n<\/p>\n \n Energy bills have repeatedly risen under the Labour Government. Ofgem raised the energy price cap by 13% from July 1 due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.\n<\/p>\n \n SNP economy spokesperson Kirsty Blackman told The National that Burnham will be \u201cjudged on his actions, not more warm words\u201d.\n<\/p>\n \n “Voters in Scotland have heard it all before,\u201d she said. \u201cKeir Starmer promised Scotland would be ‘at the beating heart’ of the Labour government but then closed Grangemouth, destroyed thousands of Scottish energy jobs, blocked devolution and disrespected Scotland’s right to choose our own future with independence.\n<\/p>\n \n “The Labour Party<\/a> promised voters it would deliver ‘change’ and ‘hope’ at the election two years ago but under the Labour Government, the cost of living has soared, unemployment has risen to a five-year high, the UK economy has been downgraded, public finances have deteriorated and families in Scotland have been left footing the bill for Labour Party failure.\u201d\n<\/p>\n \n \n Blackman said the SNP are ready to work with Burnham to help families with the cost of living, but insisted there must be a \u201cstep change\u201d in the Labour government\u2019s attitude to Scotland.\n<\/p>\n \n \u201cThat must include respecting the Scottish Parliament, strengthening its powers and accepting Scotland’s democratic right to determine our own future with independence,\u201d she added.\n<\/p>\n \n It comes as Labour’s deputy leader Lucy Powell said Burnham will have a \u201cchange of emphasis\u201d on North Sea oil and gas.<\/a>\n<\/p>\n \n Labour\u2019s 2024 manifesto pledged to honour existing oil and gas exploration licences but not issue any new ones. The debate has largely centred around two oil and gas fields \u2013 Rosebank<\/a> and Jackdaw<\/a> \u2013 off the north-eastern coast of Scotland.\n<\/p>\n \n Licences for both sites were approved under the previous Conservative government, but were overturned last year by a Scottish court<\/a>, which ruled the government would have to consider the environmental impact before agreeing that new drilling could go ahead.\n<\/p>\n \n Climate campaigners have repeatedly pointed out that more drilling in the North Sea will not lead to energy security for the UK.\n<\/p>\n \n READ MORE:<\/strong> Captain of Russian-flagged tanker seized in Scotland pleads guilty in US court<\/a>\n<\/p>\n\n<\/p>\n
‘Scotland is at the beating heart of that mission’, Keir Starmer said ahead of the 2024 General Election\n<\/p>\n