THE Scottish government challenged Labour and the Tories today to match its Just Transition Fund after Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced new oil and gas licences and billions of pounds in handouts to energy firms.

The SNP-Green government’s fund, amounting to £50 million a year for 10 years, has been widely criticised by climate campaigners. 

Friends of the Earth Scotland has argued that the criteria remains unclear and that it takes insufficient account of communities and workers in its allocations. 

The environmental campaign group was highly critical when £14m of the £50m distributed by the Scottish government last autumn was granted to Energy Transition Zone Ltd, whose chairman is oil industry billionaire Sir Ian Wood.

The company, a joint enterprise between Opportunity North East, Port of Aberdeen, Scottish Enterprise and Aberdeen City Council, plans to bulldoze the last remaining accessible green space in Torry, one of the most deprived areas in the city.

The PM has also received criticism for proposing to give £20 billion in state handouts to highly profitable oil and gas companies.

Friends of the Earth Scotland has condemned what it says is a “revolving door” for fossil fuel industry lobbyists, with over 200 meetings between the industry and SNP ministers taking place between 2018 and 2022.

SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn said: “If Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer are serious about a green renewable future, then matching the Scottish government’s £500 million Just Transition Fund is imperative.
 
“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.”

Scottish Labour was approached for comment.