Latest news with #SCC25
Glasgow Times
an hour ago
- Politics
- Glasgow Times
Tories ‘got it wrong' when they backed 2045 net zero target, Findlay says
Tory MSPs had voted for legislation in 2019 which commits Scotland to achieving net zero by that date. But Mr Findlay now says they had been 'wrong' to do so. 🗣️ @RussellFindlay1: "The only just transition is an affordable transition – one that protects North Sea jobs and cuts energy bills for families and businesses. "We would scrap the SNP's 2045 net zero target. "It is unaffordable and unachievable."#SCC25 — Scottish Conservatives (@ScotTories) June 14, 2025 His comments came as a new policy paper published by the party said reaching this target would result in 'unaffordable costs for struggling families across Scotland and put at risk our oil and gas industry and farmers' businesses'. UK Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has already said the UK target of reaching net zero by 2050 – five years later than the Scottish date – is 'impossible'. While Scottish Tories had previously backed the 2045 date, Mr Findlay told the PA news agency: 'I think yes, we did get it wrong'. When Conservative MSPs at Holyrood supported the 2045 date, he said they had done so 'so on the basis of what was known in those moments'. But he added: 'The situation has become clearer, it is evident to everybody watching this, to everybody in the Scottish Parliament, if they were being honest. 'Both Labour, the SNP and the rest of them would admit that the 2045 target isn't just unaffordable it's unachievable – that's the reality. 'So we're telling the truth to the Scottish public.' The Tories want to give local communities new legal powers to oppose 'mega-pylons' (Ben Birchall/PA) Mr Findlay continued: 'We want to reach net zero fairly and quickly. We understand the climate crisis emergency but we cannot harm our own economy and force householders who are already struggling to pay the bills with yet more great costs. 'Whether it be ripping out their gas boilers and putting in costly heat pumps, or forcing them to get rid of their cars and buying very expensive electric alternatives. 'This has got to be about the balance between ensuring we reach net zero properly and speedily, but recognising that it cannot come at a crippling cost to those people out there who are having to pay for it.' Asked later by journalists if his party was pandering to climate sceptics, Mr Findlay said they were 'absolutely not', adding the Tories were the only party 'telling the truth' on the issue. His comments came as the Scottish Conservatives promised to give every household in Scotland a £100 discount on their energy bills – with this to be funded from money accrued from the ScotWind auction, where areas of the seabed were leased for offshore wind power projects. The paper also said the Tories would make pylons 'an option of last resort for energy infrastructure projects' – with the party promising legislation to give people 'greater decision-making authority over local infrastructure projects' by abolishing the Scottish Government's existing energy consents union. Speaking about the changes as he addressed the Scottish Conservative conference in Edinburgh, Mr Findlay said: 'We would scrap the SNP's 2045 net zero target. It is unaffordable and unachievable.' He added that instead of spending money on 'SNP eco-projects', the Tories would 'use it to protect oil and gas workers' livelihoods'. Mr Findlay continued: 'We would take £100 off every household energy bill in Scotland from the proceeds of leasing our waters to wind farms. 'We will also give residents new legal powers to oppose mega-pylons.'
Powys County Times
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Powys County Times
Tories ‘got it wrong' when they backed 2045 net zero target, Findlay says
Scottish Tory leader Russell Findlay insisted his party is the only one 'telling the truth' on net zero – as he announced the Conservatives in Scotland would scrap the target of reaching this goal by 2045. Tory MSPs had voted for legislation in 2019 which commits Scotland to achieving net zero by that date. But Mr Findlay now says they had been 'wrong' to do so. 🗣️ @RussellFindlay1: "The only just transition is an affordable transition – one that protects North Sea jobs and cuts energy bills for families and businesses. "We would scrap the SNP's 2045 net zero target. "It is unaffordable and unachievable." #SCC25 — Scottish Conservatives (@ScotTories) June 14, 2025 His comments came as a new policy paper published by the party said reaching this target would result in 'unaffordable costs for struggling families across Scotland and put at risk our oil and gas industry and farmers' businesses'. UK Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has already said the UK target of reaching net zero by 2050 – five years later than the Scottish date – is 'impossible'. While Scottish Tories had previously backed the 2045 date, Mr Findlay told the PA news agency: 'I think yes, we did get it wrong'. When Conservative MSPs at Holyrood supported the 2045 date, he said they had done so 'so on the basis of what was known in those moments'. But he added: 'The situation has become clearer, it is evident to everybody watching this, to everybody in the Scottish Parliament, if they were being honest. 'Both Labour, the SNP and the rest of them would admit that the 2045 target isn't just unaffordable it's unachievable – that's the reality. 'So we're telling the truth to the Scottish public.' Mr Findlay continued: 'We want to reach net zero fairly and quickly. We understand the climate crisis emergency but we cannot harm our own economy and force householders who are already struggling to pay the bills with yet more great costs. 'Whether it be ripping out their gas boilers and putting in costly heat pumps, or forcing them to get rid of their cars and buying very expensive electric alternatives. 'This has got to be about the balance between ensuring we reach net zero properly and speedily, but recognising that it cannot come at a crippling cost to those people out there who are having to pay for it.' Asked later by journalists if his party was pandering to climate sceptics, Mr Findlay said they were 'absolutely not', adding the Tories were the only party 'telling the truth' on the issue. His comments came as the Scottish Conservatives promised to give every household in Scotland a £100 discount on their energy bills – with this to be funded from money accrued from the ScotWind auction, where areas of the seabed were leased for offshore wind power projects. The paper also said the Tories would make pylons 'an option of last resort for energy infrastructure projects' – with the party promising legislation to give people 'greater decision-making authority over local infrastructure projects' by abolishing the Scottish Government's existing energy consents union. Speaking about the changes as he addressed the Scottish Conservative conference in Edinburgh, Mr Findlay said: 'We would scrap the SNP's 2045 net zero target. It is unaffordable and unachievable.' He added that instead of spending money on 'SNP eco-projects', the Tories would 'use it to protect oil and gas workers' livelihoods'. Mr Findlay continued: 'We would take £100 off every household energy bill in Scotland from the proceeds of leasing our waters to wind farms.
Western Telegraph
3 hours ago
- Politics
- Western Telegraph
Tories ‘got it wrong' when they backed 2045 net zero target, Findlay says
Tory MSPs had voted for legislation in 2019 which commits Scotland to achieving net zero by that date. But Mr Findlay now says they had been 'wrong' to do so. 🗣️ @RussellFindlay1: "The only just transition is an affordable transition – one that protects North Sea jobs and cuts energy bills for families and businesses. "We would scrap the SNP's 2045 net zero target. "It is unaffordable and unachievable."#SCC25 — Scottish Conservatives (@ScotTories) June 14, 2025 His comments came as a new policy paper published by the party said reaching this target would result in 'unaffordable costs for struggling families across Scotland and put at risk our oil and gas industry and farmers' businesses'. UK Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has already said the UK target of reaching net zero by 2050 – five years later than the Scottish date – is 'impossible'. While Scottish Tories had previously backed the 2045 date, Mr Findlay told the PA news agency: 'I think yes, we did get it wrong'. When Conservative MSPs at Holyrood supported the 2045 date, he said they had done so 'so on the basis of what was known in those moments'. But he added: 'The situation has become clearer, it is evident to everybody watching this, to everybody in the Scottish Parliament, if they were being honest. 'Both Labour, the SNP and the rest of them would admit that the 2045 target isn't just unaffordable it's unachievable – that's the reality. 'So we're telling the truth to the Scottish public.' The Tories want to give local communities new legal powers to oppose 'mega-pylons' (Ben Birchall/PA) Mr Findlay continued: 'We want to reach net zero fairly and quickly. We understand the climate crisis emergency but we cannot harm our own economy and force householders who are already struggling to pay the bills with yet more great costs. 'Whether it be ripping out their gas boilers and putting in costly heat pumps, or forcing them to get rid of their cars and buying very expensive electric alternatives. 'This has got to be about the balance between ensuring we reach net zero properly and speedily, but recognising that it cannot come at a crippling cost to those people out there who are having to pay for it.' Asked later by journalists if his party was pandering to climate sceptics, Mr Findlay said they were 'absolutely not', adding the Tories were the only party 'telling the truth' on the issue. His comments came as the Scottish Conservatives promised to give every household in Scotland a £100 discount on their energy bills – with this to be funded from money accrued from the ScotWind auction, where areas of the seabed were leased for offshore wind power projects. The paper also said the Tories would make pylons 'an option of last resort for energy infrastructure projects' – with the party promising legislation to give people 'greater decision-making authority over local infrastructure projects' by abolishing the Scottish Government's existing energy consents union. Speaking about the changes as he addressed the Scottish Conservative conference in Edinburgh, Mr Findlay said: 'We would scrap the SNP's 2045 net zero target. It is unaffordable and unachievable.' He added that instead of spending money on 'SNP eco-projects', the Tories would 'use it to protect oil and gas workers' livelihoods'. Mr Findlay continued: 'We would take £100 off every household energy bill in Scotland from the proceeds of leasing our waters to wind farms. 'We will also give residents new legal powers to oppose mega-pylons.'
South Wales Argus
3 hours ago
- Politics
- South Wales Argus
Tories ‘got it wrong' when they backed 2045 net zero target, Findlay says
Tory MSPs had voted for legislation in 2019 which commits Scotland to achieving net zero by that date. But Mr Findlay now says they had been 'wrong' to do so. 🗣️ @RussellFindlay1: "The only just transition is an affordable transition – one that protects North Sea jobs and cuts energy bills for families and businesses. "We would scrap the SNP's 2045 net zero target. "It is unaffordable and unachievable."#SCC25 — Scottish Conservatives (@ScotTories) June 14, 2025 His comments came as a new policy paper published by the party said reaching this target would result in 'unaffordable costs for struggling families across Scotland and put at risk our oil and gas industry and farmers' businesses'. UK Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has already said the UK target of reaching net zero by 2050 – five years later than the Scottish date – is 'impossible'. While Scottish Tories had previously backed the 2045 date, Mr Findlay told the PA news agency: 'I think yes, we did get it wrong'. When Conservative MSPs at Holyrood supported the 2045 date, he said they had done so 'so on the basis of what was known in those moments'. But he added: 'The situation has become clearer, it is evident to everybody watching this, to everybody in the Scottish Parliament, if they were being honest. 'Both Labour, the SNP and the rest of them would admit that the 2045 target isn't just unaffordable it's unachievable – that's the reality. 'So we're telling the truth to the Scottish public.' The Tories want to give local communities new legal powers to oppose 'mega-pylons' (Ben Birchall/PA) Mr Findlay continued: 'We want to reach net zero fairly and quickly. We understand the climate crisis emergency but we cannot harm our own economy and force householders who are already struggling to pay the bills with yet more great costs. 'Whether it be ripping out their gas boilers and putting in costly heat pumps, or forcing them to get rid of their cars and buying very expensive electric alternatives. 'This has got to be about the balance between ensuring we reach net zero properly and speedily, but recognising that it cannot come at a crippling cost to those people out there who are having to pay for it.' Asked later by journalists if his party was pandering to climate sceptics, Mr Findlay said they were 'absolutely not', adding the Tories were the only party 'telling the truth' on the issue. His comments came as the Scottish Conservatives promised to give every household in Scotland a £100 discount on their energy bills – with this to be funded from money accrued from the ScotWind auction, where areas of the seabed were leased for offshore wind power projects. The paper also said the Tories would make pylons 'an option of last resort for energy infrastructure projects' – with the party promising legislation to give people 'greater decision-making authority over local infrastructure projects' by abolishing the Scottish Government's existing energy consents union. Speaking about the changes as he addressed the Scottish Conservative conference in Edinburgh, Mr Findlay said: 'We would scrap the SNP's 2045 net zero target. It is unaffordable and unachievable.' He added that instead of spending money on 'SNP eco-projects', the Tories would 'use it to protect oil and gas workers' livelihoods'. Mr Findlay continued: 'We would take £100 off every household energy bill in Scotland from the proceeds of leasing our waters to wind farms. 'We will also give residents new legal powers to oppose mega-pylons.'
South Wales Guardian
16 hours ago
- Business
- South Wales Guardian
Findlay: Tories will save £650m – and use the cash to cut taxes for Scots
He will insist there is a need to 'urgently streamline bloated government' at Holyrood. The party leader will outline plans for a Taxpayer Savings Act, promising this will save £650 million by 'cutting red tape, getting a grip on spending, and harnessing business expertise'. Mr Findlay will also tell the Scottish Conservative Party conference in Edinburgh about plans to establish a Scottish Agency of Value and Efficiency. This would be run by business leaders, he will tell the conference, who would then be 'tasked with wielding a claymore on waste'. The Scottish Tory leader has already accused First Minister John Swinney and his Government of wasting money 'on an industrial scale'. In his keynote speech to the conference – his first since becoming leader north of the border last year – he will say that 'putting a stop to wasteful spending is top of our agenda'. Mr Findlay will tell party supporters: 'We need to urgently streamline bloated government. 'Improving services means treating people's money with respect.' He will say £650 million that could be saved as a result of a Taxpayer Savings Act would be used 'to bring down people's taxes', adding: 'By doing that, we would start to restore trust.' Great to be at Murrayfield stadium for Scottish Tory conference. 🏴🇬🇧 Not been so much excitement since Taylor Swift was here 🤩#SCC25 — Russell Findlay MSP (@RussellFindlay1) June 13, 2025 Mr Findlay will also promise the Tories would 'shut down quangos that don't deliver value' and 'tackle the SNP's culture of cronyism through strict new rules on public appointments'. He will pledge a future Conservative government at Holyrood would seek to reduce both the number of ministers and special advisers. He is then expected to say: 'We would introduce a Scottish Agency of Value and Efficiency, run by business leaders. People in the real world who know how to get things done. 'They would be tasked with wielding a claymore on waste.' Another proposal will be for an Accountability and Transparency Index, with Mr Findlay saying this would 'shine a light on every organisation that receives public money, and would begin to dismantle the SNP's toxic era of secrecy'. Scottish public finance minister Ivan McKee said: 'The Scottish Government is making real progress in reforming the public sector: the number of Scottish public bodies under Government control has shrunk from 199 in 2007 to 131. 'However, we know there is more to do, which is why I will soon unveil our public service reform strategy. 'Unfortunately, this work has been made more difficult by the UK Government's decision to pursue Brexit, which in 2023 alone led to an estimated cut in public revenues of about £2.3 billion. 'Most Scottish taxpayers already pay less income tax than they would elsewhere in the UK.'
