First Minister has warned Prime Minister Sir
that key parts of Scotland's
economy are facing an “existential threat” unless the UK
Government acts now.
Mr Swinney said UK Ministers risked delivering “irreversible
deindustrialisation and decline in the North East economy” if
they failed to back industry by removing the Energy Profits
Levy.
The First Minister held talks with the Prime Minister ahead of a
summit of the British-Irish Council in Wales. During the meeting
he raised the impact of the UK Budget on Scotland's oil and gas
and renewables industries, key economic infrastructure including
Grangemouth, Mossmorran and Acorn, and pressed for an update on
UK-US Trade negotiations.
The First Minister also welcomed the UK Government's commitment
to remove the two-child cap and said that the change in policy
would help the Scottish Government further deliver on action to
tackle child poverty.
Following the meeting, First Minister said:
“I was clear with the Prime Minister – act now or run the risk of
delivering irreversible deindustrialisation and decline in
Scotland's economy.
“The energy industry is facing an existential threat unless it
gets the support it needs from the UK Government – including
removing the Energy Profits Levy – to help ensure there is a just
transition from oil and gas to renewables that protects skills
and delivers a pipeline of future investment.
“We have a moral obligation to deliver on our climate commitments
but must ensure we do not leave communities behind. Scotland
still suffers the scars of deindustrialisation from previous UK
Governments and unless there is action now from UK Ministers, we
run the risk of repeating the mistakes of the past.
“I also pressed the Prime Minister for an update on the UK-US
trade negotiations – specifically whisky – and reinforced my
determination to ensure there is mutually beneficial deal for
Scotland. This follows my earlier discussions with President
Trump about the tariffs impacting Scotch whisky and the symbiotic
partnership which exists between the Scotch and US whisky
industries.
“Scotland's whisky industry is a cornerstone of our economy and
without those trade exemptions – which are for the UK Government
to secure – the industry will not have the protection and support
it needs. It is in the economic interest of both Scotland and the
US to reduce tariffs for Scotch whisky.
“Scotland's economy is at its best when we focus on securing
investment in the jobs and industries of tomorrow. That ambition
is matched by our commitment to ensuring we do not repeat the
mistakes of the past – a commitment I pressed the Prime Minister
to follow.”
Background
44th British-Irish Council
Summit to be hosted by Welsh Government | The British-Irish
Council
