Leaked report highlights Scottish Government’s fears of oil dependence

A move to renewable energy is vital to reduce Scotland’s “dependence on damaging, price-volatile fossil fuels”, according to a leaked Scottish Government draft report.

The document also claims a “shared regulation of a single GB-wide energy market presents the best approach for an independent Scotland and the rest of the UK.”

The draft paper, Scotland’s Energy Future, was leaked from Finance Secretary John Swinney’s department.

Labour’s shadow energy minister Tom Greatrex MP said: “This paper yet again makes public the private concern of SNP ministers about the volatility and instability of oil prices.”

A spokesperson for the First Minister said: “The No campaign have missed the point entirely in their desperation to talk Scotland down.”

He added: “Even the current UK Energy Secretary recognises the importance of Scotland’s renewables in this context.

“Only in the minds of the anti-independence parties would having such a competitive advantage and abundance be deemed a bad thing.”