THE windfall tax on bumper North Sea oil and gas profits “retains the support of the public,” according to a new poll today.

Researchers at pollsters Survation found that 41 per cent of 2,005 respondents in Scotland supported Energy Profit Levy, or windfall tax, introduced in 2022 after the spike in oil and gas prices sparked by the war in Ukraine saw energy giants like Shell coin in billions while fuel poverty soared.

Both the Tories — who introduced it — and the SNP have since called for Chancellor Rachel Reeves to scrap it, with Scottish Finance Secretary Shona Robison branding it a “tax grab on Scotland’s energy,” but just 19 per cent of those polled agree.

End Fuel Poverty Coalition co-ordinator Simon Francis said: ”Despite the intense lobbying by the oil and gas industry — and their political allies — the windfall tax retains the support of the public.

“As long as people see the disparity between their own living conditions and the huge profits made by energy firms, this support will continue.

“Just a handful of energy firms have made around £40 billion in UK profits in the last two years, even with the Energy Profits Levy in place.

“But taxation alone is not enough. Britain needs a properly funded plan to manage the decline of the North Sea in a way that protects workers and communities, cuts bills, invests in clean energy and upgrades cold leaky homes.”

Oxfam Scotland’s Jamie Livingstone said: ”People aren’t daft; they know that the companies that have polluted our politics and plundered our planet shouldn’t be let off the hook.

“Fossil fuel companies helped light the fire, continue to fuel it, so it’s only fair they help pay to put it out.”