Uncertainty around the Prime Minister’s leadership is “perhaps influencing” delays to a meeting on independence, the Scottish First Minister has said.
In the aftermath of the Holyrood elections, John Swinney had said he would meet with Sir Keir Starmer as early as June to discuss a possible referendum.
But he has yet to hold this meeting as he said that the uncertainty of Sir Keir’s leadership position was “perhaps influencing” that being arranged.
Mr Swinney said: “I am obviously waiting to have that meeting with the Prime Minister, and the uncertainty about his position is perhaps influencing the ability to get that meeting arranged.
“But I want to make sure I have substantive dialogue with the UK Government to make sure that Scotland’s energy and wealth is in Scotland’s hands, and that Scotland has the ability to decide our own constitutional future.
“And that’s what parliament has asked me to do. It’s what the electorate asked me to do, and that’s exactly what I’m going to do.”
Mr Swinney was in Aberdeen campaigning ahead of the Aberdeen South by-election on Thursday.
The Aberdeen South by-election has centred around oil and gas legislation for the area.
Mr Swinney said the SNP wanted to see the end of the “disastrous” Energy Profits Levy (EPL) which was introduced as a temporary levy that applies to profits made from extracting UK oil and gas.
It was initially set at 25% and due to expire at the end of 2025 but it was extended by both the previous Conservative government and the current Labour government.
It now stands at 38% and is due to remain at that level until March 31 2030.
Mr Swinney said: “What the SNP wants is to see the immediate removal of the energy profit levy, because that is stymieing investment in the oil and gas sector in the north-east of Scotland and is a direct threat to jobs.
“It was put in place by the Tories and it’s been kept in place by the Labour Party, and the answer to all of this is to make sure that Scotland’s energy wealth is in Scotland’s hands and that’s exactly what the SNP, and only the SNP, represents in this by-election.”
A UK Government spokesperson said: “We’re giving the sector and its investors the long-term certainty to plan, invest and support jobs with plans to replace the Energy Profits Levy when it ends by 2030, or earlier if its price floor is triggered.
“We are also making sure the North Sea has a prosperous and sustainable future through record investment that helps deliver the next generation of skilled jobs while growing the clean energy industries of the future.”
A Downing Street spokesperson said: “It is categorically untrue that the Prime Minister and First Minister agreed to meet to discuss a referendum on independence.
“It is standard practice for the UK Prime Minister to meet with heads of devolved administrations and the same offer was made to leaders in Wales and Northern Ireland.
“While the First Minister may want to use this meeting to pursue an agenda, the position of the UK Government is unchanged.
“The Prime Minister offered a meeting to discuss shared issues including the cost of living and tackling child poverty.
“People need and want their governments focused on the issues that really matter – economic growth, the cost of living, and public services.
“Our focus must be on delivery, not division.
“As the PM told the First Minister, the manifesto this Government was elected on was unambiguous that we do not support independence or another referendum.”
