“I fail to understand how Mr McArthur can dismiss the need for Scotland to have these powers” – Scotland Votes for Powers Over Energy

With Energy Bills to rise by 13%, the Scottish Parliament voted in favour of Scotland having control over the energy it produces. However, Orkney’s Constituency MSP, Liam McArthur voted against energy powers being devolved to Scotland.

Robert Leslie who was the SNP candidate in the Orkney constituency at the 2026 Scottish Parliament elections in May has challenged Liam McArthur LibDem MSP to explain to his constituents why he has voted against Scotland taking control of energy policy, despite acknowledging the damage that the UK’s broken energy system has done to Orkney.

The UK energy price cap for July to September 2026 is the first to be affected by increased wholesale prices due to the ongoing economic crisis caused by the US/Israel War of Choice against Iran. As a result unit prices for gas and electricity will increase by 28% and 6% respectively. (Default Tariff Cap (Price Cap) Predictions & Insights.)

Robert Leslie said:

“I fail to understand how Mr McArthur can dismiss the need for Scotland to have these powers, while acknowledging that our islands have been a pioneer in the energy sector for decades, yet we experience some of the highest fuel poverty levels anywhere, and admitting ‘that cannot be right’.

“He even states that addressing that situation will require ‘an overhaul of outdated guidance’.”

Last week the Scottish Parliament debated “It’s Scotland’s Energy”. You can watch the recording of the debate here:

The motion being debated on 28 May, S7M-00159 was —“That the Parliament believes that Scotland’s energy should be in Scotland’s hands, and calls for all energy powers to be immediately devolved to the Scottish Parliament.”

Robert Leslie said that the decision by the Orkney MSP Liam McArthur to vote against devolving powers over energy to Scotland appeared to be a U-turn from the Lib Dems, who had previously been in favour of this.

And he added that it was incredible to see an MSP for an area so badly damaged by UK energy policy refusing to back a motion to devolve these powers.

“He must be aware of the persistent lobbying of the UK Government and energy regulator Ofgem that bodies such as Orkney Renewable Energy Forum, Orkney Islands Council, and regional groups such as the Rural and Islands Fuel Poverty Action Group, of which I am a member, have carried out over more than a decade to bring price fairness to households in Orkney and across the Highlands and Islands.

“Sadly, all the evidence presented to the UK Government and to Ofgem has brought no action. Prices are rising, not falling. Prices will not fall for Orkney households under the present broken UK privatised energy system.”

Both Liam McArthur MSP and Highlands and Islands Green MSP Kristopher Leask (who is also from Orkney) spoke in the debate on Scotland’s Energy which was led by SNP Energy Minister Stephen Gethins.

Stephen Gethins made the case that Scotland’s energy should be in Scotland’s hands, and called for all energy powers to be immediately devolved to the Scottish Parliament. It was a motion that won on the day, by 70 votes to 54. (70 votes for were from SNP and Greens, 54 votes against giving Scotland control over its energy were from Labour, Reform, Conservative, and LibDems.)

Orkney’s Kristopher Leask MSP and Shetland’s Hannah Mary Goodland both voted for the motion, however, Liam McArthur voted against it. Liam McArthur also attempted to put forward an amendment that side-stepped the issue of devolving the powers over energy, but spoke mainly about community benefit. (McArthur’s amendment could only muster 25 votes.

On Community Benefit, Stephen Gethins reminded the LibDems that they were once in favour of devolving powers over energy to Scotland. The Energy Minister said that he would be happy to work with Liam McArthur on expanding community benefit and said:

“Let us not forget that, last year alone, community benefits delivered £30 million to our communities.”

Commenting on Kristopher Leask’s first speech in the Scottish Parliament, Robert Leslie said:

“I was pleased to see Mr Leask, in his first speech in the Holyrood chamber, promote the value of community energy, and also highlight how successive UK Governments ‘have failed to plan for our energy future energy system and seem perpetually stuck in reforming our grid system to no conclusion’.

“Of course the Scottish Government can do better, and I look forward to seeing the SNP work with the Greens, as Stephen Gethins committed to in his closing remarks, to speed up the growth in community-owned energy. It is community ownership, and not just community benefit, that will make a real difference in our islands.”

Mr Gethins took a very collegiate approach in his closing remarks, where he mentioned Mr McArthur, Mr Leask and Hannah Mary Goodlad, saying:

“I will try to be more generous to Liam McArthur, whose ongoing commitment to community benefit I take seriously.

“I want to work with him and with Kristopher Leask, who made a very good point on that issue.

“I have also had Hannah Mary Goodlad in my ear in that regard in relation to Shetland, and I know that other members will want to make sure that such benefit is felt across Scotland.”

“Scotland has the energy; it does not yet have the power,” said Robert Leslie.

“Our vast resources are among the best in Europe, but folk in Orkney are not feeling the benefit. Westminster has had its chance and has failed.

“For Mr McArthur to ignore these failures appears to be wilful blindness. He needs to explain why he feels Orkney continuing to be shackled to such a broken system is better than the people of Scotland taking control of our energy future.”

A record 38.5 TWh of renewable electricity was generated in Scotland in 2025 – a 0.7% increase compared to the 38.3 TWh generated in 2024.

In 2025, there was 17.9 GW of renewable electricity capacity in Scotland – a 3.2% increase from 17.3 GW in 2024.

As of the end December 2025, there were 1,201 renewable energy projects with an estimated capacity of 84.8 GW in the planning pipeline in Scotland.

Scotland continues to generate more electricity than it needs. In 2025, net electricity exports (exports minus imports) were 20.8 TWh. – Energy Statistics for Scotland.

What happens next?

The Scottish Parliament has voted for control over Scotland’s energy to be in Scotland’s hands. Stephen Gethins, the Scottish Government Energy Minister will now urge UK Ministers to formally engage over the devolution of powers over energy to be transferred to Scotland.

Stephen Gethins said:

“Now, with the backing of the Scottish Parliament, we are formally requesting the devolution of powers that we need to maximise our remarkable energy potential, so that it helps to deliver prosperity, security and fairness for the country.”

Fiona Grahame