North-east Tory politicians call for increased oil extraction
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LOCAL Tory politicians called the Green Party "student politicians", "muesli munching mangos", and the SNP "grubby" and the "nippiest party" at a Party Conference event about improving the north-east.
Grampian's Conservative politicians also banged the drum for ramping up oil and gas production at the Scottish Conservative Party conference today, at a session called "A fair deal for the north-east".
The session, the first at this year's conference in Aberdeen was packed with local Tories, including: Andrew Bowie, MP for West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine; councillor Mark Findlater for Troup; Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West; and MSPs for North East Scotland Tess White, Maurice Golden and Douglas Lumsden.
MSP Maurice Golden said: "To avoid the doomsday scenario set up by the SNP and the Greens, those sultana supping, lentil licking, muesli munching mangos – mangos because they are green on the outside and as yellow as the SNP on the inside – we need to support the Scottish Conservative strategy, the real alternative.
"The approach from the SNP and Greens on tackling oil and gas, the First Minister's comments on the Cambo oil field development, which is entirely compatible with our net zero climate change targets, was deplorable.
"It threatens 100,000 jobs in the oil and gas sector.
"That domestic production of north sea oil is three times less carbon intensive than importing crude oil from Qatar."
Evaluating the SNP's performance, Douglas Lumsden MSP said: "This shambolic, nippiest party has failed the whole of Scotland, and on that we can agree.
"But it's the north-east which has been particularly neglected, especially when compared to the Central belt.
"One of the biggest source of jobs, direct and indirect, in the north-east is the oil and gas sector.
"The SNP have turned their back on the north east to appease the Greens in their grubby coalition.
"We have never had more of an anti-north-east government in the history of the Scottish Government."
Identifying the fate of north-east Scotland as relying on oil and gas extraction was a running theme throughout speeches.
Tess White MSP said: "Before being elected as an MSP this year I worked at a senior level in the oil and gas industry and in business for over 30 years.
"I know first-hand just how important the energy sector is for the north east economy and to the livelihoods of thousands of families.
"But the moment Nicola Sturgeon signed on the dotted line with the Scottish Greens, she abandoned those families and she betrayed the north east."
About the SNP-Green coalition, Andrew Bowie said: "These student politicians, who are simply play-acting, are just philosophically uncomfortable with reality.
"The North Sea will power the future.
"We are drilling for victory."
The oil and gas push and crowd-pleasing barbs were out of touch with other speeches on local issues.
Councillor Mark Findlater for Troup began his speech in his own unique way.
He said: "Aye aye folks, fit like? Aye, 'am chavvin awa'.
"After his introduction, he went on to focus on Macduff's bridges and schools, saying: "Aberdeenshire Council does not get enough money to tread water with our huge backlog of maintenance programmes.
"The SNP and Green ministers may not think we are missing much money, but we are fixing four bridges, fixing potholes, fixing Banff Academy's roof which was blown off in the storms...they are responsible and the failure list of the coalition of chaos, who are in charge of Scotland's purse, is long and getting longer.
"We are committed, competent councillors in the north-east so Scotland, so gie us a fair crack a' the whip.
"Haud gaun, and win."
Along similar lines, Alexander Burnett MP for Aberdeenshire West said: "For too long the SNP have favoured the Central belt, while neglecting the issues that face our communities.
"Reliable rail, roads without potholes, bridges we can use, high speed broadband, rural schools, access to healthcare and community hospitals are the things that our constituents want.
"And only we, the Scottish Conservatives, have committed to ensuring that the north east recieves its fair share of funding to solve these issues.
"Rural health services have been cut with disasterous effect."
Douglas Lumsden shared these concerns about health services, he said: "Its also very important for us to protect rural Minor Injury Units, such as the one in Turriff, from closure."
Closing the session, Andrew Bowie ended with a rhyme.
He said: "The Greens may dream dreams, the nats may scheme schemes, but we Conservatives have got governing to do."
