Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney has signalled a clear softening of his government’s position on domestic oil and gas drilling as spiralling energy prices and instability in the Middle East sharpen concerns over energy security. Speaking at a live recording of the Holyrood Sources podcast, Swinney indicated that the crisis in the region – including the blocking of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital chokepoint for global oil supplies – had altered the political and economic context around North Sea production.
For years, SNP-led administrations have adopted a cautious line on new exploration in the North Sea, resisting pressure from industry and opposition parties to accelerate developments at major fields. Central to that stance has been the party’s insistence on “climate compatibility tests” for any new licences, designed to ensure that decisions were aligned with Scotland’s climate commitments. However, Swinney has now made clear that those tests should explicitly incorporate energy security, acknowledging that recent geopolitical shocks have exposed the vulnerability of relying heavily on imported fossil fuels.
Pressed on whether his government would back approvals for the controversial Rosebank and Jackdaw oil fields, Swinney stopped short of offering a definitive position, stressing that formal climate compatibility assessments still need to be completed. Nonetheless, he accepted that the situation on the ground has changed markedly in a matter of weeks. He pointed to what he called an “illegal intervention” in Iran and the “chaos” it has generated across global energy markets, arguing that Scotland now faces “much greater risk” to its energy security than it did even a month ago.
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That shift in emphasis marks a subtle but significant recalibration of the Scottish Government’s messaging. Swinney reiterated that he remains “wholly committed” to renewable energy and recognises that Scotland must continue its transition away from fossil fuels. At the same time, he conceded that oil and gas will still be required “for years to come” and argued that, where hydrocarbons are needed, domestically produced supplies may be preferable to imports that are both more carbon intensive and more exposed to international turmoil.
The First Minister suggested that this changing backdrop “alters the balance of argument” around future drilling. In his view, if domestic production can be shown to generate lower emissions than importing oil and gas from abroad, it should be favoured as part of a managed transition, provided it passes stringent climate checks. He framed this as a pragmatic response to a “more perilous” security of supply situation, rather than a wholesale retreat from climate ambitions.
Swinney’s comments underline the difficult political terrain he must now navigate, caught between green campaigners demanding a rapid phase-out of fossil fuels and communities and businesses anxious about soaring bills and potential shortages. By placing energy security alongside climate compatibility at the heart of decision-making, he is seeking to offer reassurance that Scotland will not be left exposed in the face of global upheaval, even as it continues to champion renewable power.
