by Matt Kerr
Scotland reporter

AN SNP MSP has written to Andy Burnham to renew his party’s calls for the windfall tax on oil and gas giants’ multi-billion pound profits to be axed.

Just hours after he broke with his party’s “case-by-case” position on new oil and gas drilling in the North Sea to back the exploitation of the Jackdaw and Rosebank fields, Jack Middleton has called for the 38 per cent levy on North Sea profits to be ditched.

Writing to the man expected to be Prime Minister by the end of next week, the newly elected Aberdeen Central MSP argued that the tax was costing the offshore industry as many as 1,000 jobs a month.

“The supply chains and investment we need to deliver our renewables future is being destroyed before our very eyes thanks to the energy profits levy and licensing decisions taken by Westminster,” he said.

“Put simply, our energy security, our economy and our net zero future hangs in the balance because of Westminster’s decision to rely on high-carbon imports as well as inflicting a punitive tax and licensing regime on Scotland’s energy.”

Calling for the levy — which has netted public services over £9 billion since it was introduced in 2022-23 — to be axed, he insisted: “I am unaware of a single coherent argument in favour of the continuation of this destructive tax and I urge you to provide assurances to the people of Scotland of your position.

“For too long, Scotland’s resources have been treated as cash cow to the detriment of our economy and national security — the people of Scotland and these islands deserve to know you will take steps to address that and provide us with a straight answer.”

Mr Burnham was contacted for comment.