“MILIBAND POLITICAL POSTURING COULD COST TENS OF THOUSANDS OF SKILLED JOBS” - SALMOND

News reports that Ed Miliband has ordered an immediate cessation of North Sea drilling has drawn a caustic response from former Scottish First Minister, Alex Salmond. He said:

“This is the sort of adolescent political posturing which could cost tens of thousands of skilled jobs across the UK but concentrated on the North East of Scotland. Miliband should remember that in Government careless talk costs jobs.

"Miliband should stop playing to the gallery and take the time to consider a rational energy policy. An immediate cessation of drilling would not only kick workers in the teeth it would embroil the Labour Government in legal actions which would last years if not decades. The new Energy Secretary needs to get his Department and its muddled communications under control.

"Instead Labour needs to find a considered approach to oil and gas which can reconcile its continuation with the future of the planet. Instead of a blanket ban they need to attach carbon capture obligations to each continuing field development.

"Labour in Scotland should be aghast at these reports. No sooner have they achieved election victory than Miliband aims a dagger at the heart of the Scottish economy. The Scottish people will draw their own conclusions from Miliband’s anti-Scottish posturing.”