The SNP has challenged both Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer to commit to matching the Scottish Government’s £500 million Just Transition Fund.

Natalie Don MSP has said that matching the Scottish Government’s £500million Just Transition Fund is imperative if either of leader of the two main UK parties are actually serious about a green, renewable future.

This follows the UK’s governments announcement on carbon capture and storage in the north east of Scotland, after more than a decade of delays.

Commenting, Natalie Don MSP said:

“If Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer were actually serious about a green, renewable future than they need to match the actions of the Scottish Government in establishing a £500million Just Transition Fund.

“The SNP Scottish Government has shown its ambition by committing £500 million to a Just Transition Fund – but this has to be matched by Westminster.

“Successive UK governments have exploited Scotland’s vast energy resources for decades now to bolster UK finances and the latest announcement by the Tory Government shows that they are at it again. They must now take responsibility and work with the Scottish Government to unlock Scotland’s enormous renewable energy potential.

“From the US to the EU, countries across the world are pouring money into the green energy gold rush, but with the UK government moving at a snail’s pace, Scotland risks being left behind.

“At the next election, only the SNP are offering voters a real alternative with independence – which would give a democratically elected Scottish Government full control over energy policy and enable us to ensure that Scotland becomes the renewable energy capital of the world.

“Scotland has the energy – we just need the power.”