Two Aberdeen councillors have vowed to lobby for the introduction of exploration tax credits to safeguard the future of the North Sea if they are elected to Westminster.
Callum McCaig, leader of the city council’s SNP group, and his colleague Kirsty Blackman said the issue would be a top priority for them if they are chosen to represent Aberdeen south and north constituencies respectively in May.
The pair made the pledge yesterday after SNP conference delegates unanimously backed a motion on the issue.
It stated that while it was welcome that the current UK Government had reduced a supplementary charge on oil production from 30% to 20%, more had to be done to support the “long term vitality” of the industry.
The global drop in oil prices has led to thousands of job losses and last week oil giant Shell UK and energy firm TAQA announced they were considering axing 350 North Sea.
Mr McCaig said: “The long term vitality of the oil and gas industry will only continue to flourish with support for exploration because there is now historically low levels.
“We need a real shot in the arm in terms of more drilling which will lead to more jobs, prosperity and production.
“We have secured backing for a call for the introduction for an exploration tax credit and if elected as an MP that will be one of my very top priorities.”
Mrs Blackman said the oil industry was very important to Aberdeen and Scotland but the UK Government was too slow to respond to the crisis.
She claimed that the SNP’s political opponents had been rejoicing about the oil price drop because it undermined the independence argument.
Mrs Blackman said: “The unionist collaboration within Aberdeen City Council are standing in that chamber laughing and joking about the fall.
“People are losing their jobs – another 350 probable losses this week –
“This is absolutely despicable behaviour because we need to support the oil industry and give it a little boost in order to secure its future.
“The oil industry is so important for Aberdeen and if elected as an MP I will be pushing to receive support from the government in terms of tax credits.”