Scotland and Norway are alike in so many ways – shaped by the same seas, the same weather, and the same natural energy. Both were given a once-in-a-century opportunity with North Sea oil. But the choices made about how that wealth was used led us down completely different paths.
In Scotland, Westminster handed control of our oil to private companies and funnelled the profits south. A suppressed 1974 report even showed Scotland could have become one of Europe’s richest nations – but the public were never told.
Norway took a different path. They kept their oil in public hands, built a national energy company, and invested the profits for the long term. Today, their sovereign wealth fund is one of the largest in the world, paying for schools, healthcare, jobs, and pensions.
Meanwhile, Westminster squandered Scotland’s wealth. Thatcher spent the oil windfall on tax cuts for the wealthy and privatisations. The chance to build lasting prosperity was lost.
Now a new energy revolution is here. Scotland generates more clean electricity than we use – yet families face some of the highest energy bills in Europe because key decisions are still made in Westminster.
The lesson is clear:
- When decisions are made in Westminster, Scotland’s resources work for others.
- When decisions are made in Scotland, they can work for us.
With independence, we can:
- Cut household energy bills by over a third
- Enshrine communities with the right to own up to 20% of onshore wind projects
- Create energy savings for businesses of at least one third
Norway used its energy wealth to build a fairer, more prosperous nation. Scotland can too – but only if we vote for it.
It’s time for a fresh start with lower energy bills. It’s time to vote SNP.
Pledge your support for the It’s Scotland’s Energy campaign.