Jeremy Corbyn has come under fire after he pledged to set a target date to end new fossil fuel extraction and wind-up support for “dirty” energy.
Callum McCaig branded the policy – unveiled as part of the Labour leader’s energy and environment manifesto yesterday – “incredibly disrespectful” and an “embarrassing” missed opportunity.
His ideas were also condemned as “naive and short-sighted” by the GMB union, which is backing Owen Smith in the leadership race.
The SNP Aberdeen South MP said it was “exasperating” that the opposition had prioritised “a desire to shut down” the oil and gas industry without considering the impact on hundreds of thousands of jobs.
He added: “This is not a credible energy and environmental manifesto as it fails to address what practical steps we should take now to progress our energy sources to long-term renewables, but instead presents fantasy as policy.
“Oil and gas extraction is about more than just producing fuel and energy for our homes and transport.
“To not appreciate how much we rely on petrochemicals and by-products of that sector is incredibly disrespectful.
“We all know fossil fuels are not an endless bounty, but declaring you’d shut them down without a reliable alternative in place is freely admitting to gambling with the energy needs of our entire country.”
Mr McCaig, the party’s business, energy and industrial strategy spokesman, insisted it was the SNP who was “leading the charge” in securing investment to encourage the steady and progressive development of renewables.
Mr Corbyn’s manifesto also includes pledges to create more than 300,000 renewable energy jobs and to set a target of 65% of UK electricity from renewable sources by 2030.