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.