Scottish First Minister Calls for Energy Powers to Be Transferred from Westminster

Scotland's First Minister called for energy powers to move from Westminster to Holyrood. Officials said the transfer would end the windfall tax on offshore oil and gas and allow licensing decisions based on Scottish needs. The statement came during a visit to Aberdeen ahead of a June 18 by-election in Aberdeen South.

Officials linked the request to the July rise in the energy price cap announced by Ofgem and to a recent vote by MSPs supporting the transfer.

The Scottish government previously set a presumption against new offshore fossil fuel licences in 2023. It initially supported the windfall tax, later opposed its extension, and then called for the tax to be removed. Last year the government said it was neutral on new drilling at the Rosebank field after a legal challenge suspended work there.

Conservative leader Russell Findlay said the proposal amounted to "desperate and dishonest nonsense" and classic grievance politics. He noted that both the Scottish National Party and Labour oppose new North Sea drilling while Conservatives would scrap the windfall tax.

The First Minister said Westminster controls Scotland's energy, the Treasury receives billions from the North Sea seabed, and higher bills result for Scottish households. Officials added that transferring powers would let the government protect the existing oil and gas sector while developing renewables.