Orkney SNP candidate Robert Leslie has called on the importance of Orkney’s blue economy as well as island food producers to be recognised as the SNP’s spring conference agreed to strengthen the case for all citizens to see the benefits of Scotland’s vast energy wealth.
Mr Leslie seconded an amendment from the Glasgow Easterhouse and Springburn branch at the conference at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre on Saturday, urging the conference to agree that ensuring jobs and skills are developed within the Scottish economy is vital to spearheading an independent future and a just transition from fossil fuels to renewables.
Recalling his first ever SNP conference speech, in 2015, Mr Leslie spoke of an Orkney farmer who had observed that the wind turbine on his farm was heating his house so well that gaps had opened up in the wood panelling in the hallway.
He had used the story to illustrate the gap between the energy rich – those who had been able to invest in renewables – and the energy poor, who had not, and who suffered the high electricity prices. These have only increased since due to inaction from the Labour government at Westminster.
He said:
“But I visited that same farmhouse this week and heard from the grandson of that farmer of the precarious nature of farming in Orkney right now, with input costs rocketing and greening schemes putting pressure on already green farms.
“It is clear that while we strive for a fairer energy future, we also need to ensure our farmers – our food producers – are supported to be part of a sustainable and greener future both in terms of energy security and food security.”
Turning to the waters around Orkney, Mr Leslie added:
“Equally important in Orkney and Scotland is our blue economy, and continued support will be critical for jobs and skills in tidal stream energy, a predictable home-grown clean power source.
“It is nearing commercialisation and can be a key part of our energy mix.”
The amendment focusing on jobs and skills and a move to a fully renewable future was backed along with the main resolution, which stated that, ‘an energy-rich Scotland can and should mean energy-rich Scots’. It also set out how ‘with the fresh start of independence, Scotland can cut household energy bills by over a third, create energy savings for businesses of at least one third and enshrine the right to community ownership of energy projects’.
Mr Leslie concluded:
“Affordable warmth for all is still the pot of gold I chase every day. Independence will bring that pot of gold closer.”
Elections to the Scottish Parliament take place on Thursday 7 May 2026.
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