SNP: Tories "shafting Scotland" by failing to hand over carbon capture funds

Wednesday, 15 March 2023 15:44

SNP demand immediate funding after decade of broken promises The SNP has accused the Tory government of "shafting Scotland" after the Chancellor failed to announce any funding for the Acorn project and carbon capture in Scotland. After a decade of broken promises from the Westminster government, it was expected that Jeremy Hunt would finally announce the long-overdue funds, which were originally promised to Scotland by UK government ministers...Request free trial

SNP demand immediate funding after decade of broken promises

The SNP has accused the Tory government of "shafting Scotland" after the Chancellor failed to announce any funding for the Acorn project and carbon capture in Scotland.

After a decade of broken promises from the Westminster government, it was expected that Jeremy Hunt would finally announce the long-overdue funds, which were originally promised to Scotland by UK government ministers ahead of the 2014 independence referendum.

Instead, the UK government has snubbed Scotland yet again by failing to announce any funds - having previously withdrawn £1billion of funding from Peterhead in 2015, and having snubbed Scotland's Acorn project during the Track 1 cluster announcement in 2021.

Industry leaders have already criticised Westminster's slow paced roll-out of CCUS and this development could see projects lag behind other clusters across the world.

Commenting, SNP Westminster Leader Stephen Flynn MP said:

"After a decade of broken promises, it's utterly shameful that the Tory government is shafting Scotland yet again by failing to announce any funding for the Acorn project and Scottish carbon capture at the Budget.

"UK government ministers promised Scotland would get £1billion of CCUS investment during the 2014 independence referendum, only to break that promise and withdraw the funding within weeks of the vote.

"It beggars belief that the Tories are still refusing to hand over the money almost ten years later - and shows how little they care about jobs and investment in the north east of Scotland.

"There must now be an urgent U-turn from the UK government. This long-overdue funding for the Acorn project must be delivered immediately - not years down the line. With every day Westminster fails, it is damaging Scotland's economy and undermining our potential as a powerhouse of green growth.

"By repeatedly failing to invest in Scotland, the Tories are showing why we need independence, so we can escape Westminster control and make the most of Scotland's huge green energy potential."