It's Scotland's energy': SNP to focus on renewables in Holyrood election

"The future of Scottish renewables will underpin the Scottish National party's Holyrood election campaign, the party leader, John Swinney, has said, as he claimed independence could cut household energy bills by a third in the long term. At what was billed as the first campaign event before next May's elections to the Scottish parliament, Swinney declared: It's Scotland's energy mirroring the famous 1970s slogan It's Scotland's oil, which bolstered the SNP's first Westminster breakthrough."

"Contrasting how the UK and Norway managed their oil wealth, the campaign argues that Westminster handed control of our oil to private companies and funnelled the profits south, while Norway kept their oil in public hands, built a national energy company and invested the profits for the long term. In his speech, Swinney told supporters: Just like oil and renewables-rich Norway, Scotland has been blessed twice."

Scottish renewables are presented as the cornerstone of the upcoming Holyrood election campaign, with independence framed as a route to substantially lower household energy bills. The campaign contrasts UK management of oil wealth with Norway's model of state ownership, a national energy company and long-term investment of profits. The message asserts Scotland can replicate that success with abundant, low-cost renewable resources. The first minister criticised the energy profits levy as harming the industry. Climate campaigners warned the approach favours oil companies, citing the sale of ScotWind leases and industry influence. Details on how independence would be achieved remained sparse.

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