Swinney Urges Burnham to Scrap Windfall Tax After BP Moves to Sell North Sea Business
Updated
Updated · Free Press Series · Jul 31
Swinney Urges Burnham to Scrap Windfall Tax After BP Moves to Sell North Sea Business
3 articles · Updated · Free Press Series · Jul 31
Summary
BP’s plan to sell its UK Continental Shelf operations prompted John Swinney to warn of “real uncertainty” for workers and demand that Andy Burnham scrap the Energy Profits Levy.
The company said its North Sea assets would be “better positioned as part of another company,” sharpening concerns over jobs in north-east Scotland and the future of the offshore sector.
Miatta Fahnbulleh said she is in close contact with BP and that protecting workers and local communities is the government’s priority during the sale process.
The sale quickly became a political flashpoint: Reform UK and Conservatives blamed anti-oil policies and the levy, while Uplift said 93% of recoverable North Sea reserves are already extracted and called for a worker transition plan.