Election highlights changing tides on new North Sea oil and gas production

The Scottish election has highlighted the stance of political parties around new oil and gas drilling in the North Sea, with John Swinney saying he is now open to exploration off Scotland’s coast.

Energy prices have been highlighted by the spiralling costs of energy bills, and the cost of living crisis has been in sharp focus in the election campaign.

President Trump weighed in on the debate earlier in the week, saying on a social media post that Aberdeen should be booming, and advising Scotland to “drill baby, drill”.

The two fields at the centre of this debate are Rosebank, west of Shetland, and Jackdaw, east of Aberdeen, and new production could mean new jobs and economic prosperity for an area in decline.

Energy policy is currently decided by Westminster.