Shadow Scottish secretary Andrew Bowie has called for an urgent policy review on North Sea oil and gas, following comments by former US President Donald Trump describing the region as “a treasure chest for the United Kingdom”.
Trump’s remarks—made during a visit to Scotland earlier this week—criticised the UK’s windfall tax on fossil fuel profits and claimed high taxes on oil and gas firms “make no sense”. He argued that the UK government is effectively telling drillers and energy companies that “we don’t want you”.
The Conservative MP for West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine has now written to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer requesting a meeting in Downing Street to reconsider current energy policies and engage with industry leaders, supply chain firms, and local workers to agree on a “coherent and sustainable path forward”.
In his letter, Bowie cited Trump’s calls to “incentivise” domestic oil production and warned that Labour’s decision to retain the energy profits levy (EPL)—first introduced by the previous Conservative government in 2022—has contributed to industry uncertainty.
“As President Trump has said, the UK’s ‘very high’ tax on oil and gas companies is a deterrent to investment,” Bowie wrote. “The extension of the EPL, coupled with uncertainty around future licensing and investment signals, has created a climate of instability that threatens jobs, innovation, and the region’s economic resilience.”
Bowie added that the UK must not overlook the vital role oil and gas still play in its energy security and economic future, arguing that “British people would rather see the UK benefit from domestic exploration and drilling than import more from Norway and Qatar”.
During his visit, Trump shared his views on the issue via his Truth Social platform, writing: “North Sea oil is a treasure chest for the United Kingdom. The taxes are so high, however, that it makes no sense… Incentivise the drillers, fast. A vast fortune to be made for the UK, and far lower energy costs for the people.”
The former president also took aim at the country’s offshore wind energy sector, describing the turbines off the coast near Aberdeen as “some of the ugliest windmills you’ve ever seen” and mocked their size, comparing them to 50-storey buildings.
Speaking at his Turnberry golf resort, he added: “You can take 1,000 times more energy out of a hole in the ground this big,” while making a gesture with his hands to emphasise his point.
Sir Keir, who was with Trump during part of his visit, maintained a more measured tone, stating: “Oil and gas are going to be with us for a very long time, and that’ll be part of the mix—but also wind, solar, and increasingly nuclear.”
Despite criticism of renewables from Trump, the Labour government has chosen Aberdeen as the headquarters for GB Energy, a new state-owned company tasked with accelerating the rollout of clean energy across the UK.
The tension between short-term energy security and long-term sustainability continues to dominate debate around the UK’s energy future. With fiscal pressures mounting and industry stakeholders demanding clarity, Bowie’s call for a review could spark further discussion within Westminster and across the North Sea energy sector.
Read more:
PM urged to review North Sea oil policy after Trump calls it UK’s ‘treasure chest’