# Scotland drops opposition to North Sea oil and gas

> The SNP-led Scottish government will revise its energy strategy to stop opposing new oil and gas exploration, marking a major policy shift.
- Title: Scotland drops opposition to North Sea oil and gas · POLITICO
- Summary: The SNP-led Scottish government will revise its energy strategy to stop opposing new oil and gas exploration, marking a major policy shift. Scotland's SNP…
- Keywords: scottish government, snp, north sea, oil and gas, energy policy, jackdaw gas field, rosebank oil field, scotland, politics, world, drops, opposition
- Source: POLITICO — https://politico.eu/article/scottish-government-to-drop-opposition-new-oil-gas-fields-north-sea-energy
- Published: 2026-10-16T15:40:52+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: scottish government, snp, north sea, oil and gas, energy policy, jackdaw gas field, rosebank oil field, scotland, politics, world
## SNP government reverses oil stance
The SNP-led Scottish government will revise its energy strategy to drop opposition to new North Sea oil and gas exploration, two senior officials told POLITICO.
## From presumption against to neutrality
Scotland's 2023 draft strategy stated a presumption against new oil and gas fields. The new strategy, expected by summer, will remove this wording and no longer begin from opposition.

> out of date
## Electoral losses drove the shift
The SNP lost a key parliamentary by-election in Aberdeen to the pro-drilling Conservative Party in summer, where North Sea messaging was a focus. An official called it bruising.
## Party conference signals new direction
The SNP passed a resolution Friday stating domestic oil and gas production is clearly preferable to importation. The defeated Aberdeen candidate said the party must end the presumption against.

> We need to put to bed any suggestion that our party, or our government, supports a 'presumption against'
## Key takeaway

Scotland's SNP government is abandoning its opposition to new North Sea oil and gas fields, reversing a long-standing policy after electoral losses.