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Swinney repeatedly refuses to say if he backs the Rosebank oil field as Tory leader says getting an answer is 'torture'

John Swinney, who accepted the UK government's approval of the Jackdaw gas field but stopped short of extending that support to Rosebank.
John Swinney, who accepted the UK government's approval of the Jackdaw gas field but stopped short of extending that support to Rosebank.

Scottish First Minister John Swinney was branded "pathetic" at Holyrood on Thursday after he avoided direct questions on Rosebank — the North Sea's largest untapped oil field — at least seven times during First Minister's Questions. Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay pushed him five times for a yes-or-no answer, describing the experience as "torture", while Scottish Labour leader Michael Marra also called for a clear position after stating his own support for the development.

Swinney argued that any decision on Rosebank would need to satisfy a legal climate compatibility test, directing responsibility squarely at the UK Government.

Findlay savaged Swinney's evasiveness: 'He's got opinions on Gaza, Israel, Russia, Iran, Europe, but not on the North Sea.'

In 2023 Nicola Sturgeon called Rosebank 'the greatest act of environmental vandalism in my lifetime', but the SNP has since softened its stance.

MoreDaily MailFirst Minister refuses to say SEVEN TIMES if he supports oil fieldThe ScotsmanJohn Swinney repeatedly challenged on whether he supports Rosebank, 'yes or no'The HeraldSwinney declines four times to say he supports Rosebank oil field developmentThe HeraldSwinney pressed to give explicit support for Rosebank oil development
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