SCOTTISH Minister for Europe & External Affairs Stephen Gethins has travelled to Brussels to pitch Scotland’s “critical” role in EU energy security.

Mr Gethins, who was handed the role after winning a seat in Holyrood in May, will meet representatives from the European Parliament and the European Commission on his two-day trip to the Belgian capital.

Mr Gethins said: “Scotland has a critical role to play in safeguarding European energy security. 

“Europe needs reliable partners and reliable supply — and Scotland can be both.”

“Scotland’s brightest future is as an independent nation and member of the EU for the sake of our security, prosperity, and our people.”

However Radical Options for Scotland and Europe editor Kate Ramsden was unconvinced.

“It’s remarkable Mr Gethins can offer the EU ‘energy security’ when there’s precious little of it at home,” she said.

“Our oil and gas are owned by multinationals and his government sold rights to offshore wind to the same firms for buttons.

“What we need is democratic ownership of energy, but the Scottish government have moved in the opposite direction and the EU will always put markets before people.”