Scottish Conservative MP for West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine since 2017
BP has announced it is marketing its North Sea business for sale to slim down the group and focus on higher‑value opportunities. The five-hub operation employs about 1,100 staff and produced around 117,000 boe/d in 2025. The move comes amid political and policy pressure over North Sea drilling and windfall taxation, with potential proceeds around £2 billion.
Ming Yang’s £1.5bn Ardersier project is blocked by UK ministers over national security concerns. Scotland’s leaders are calling for a review as officials weigh jobs and investment against security risks and data-control questions. The debate centers on whether Chinese tech can power the UK’s offshore wind ambitions without compromising resilience.
The Conservative leader has reshuffled her shadow cabinet ahead of Parliament’s return, appointing Andrew Griffith as shadow chancellor and Claire Coutinho as shadow business secretary. Tom Tugendhat and Priti Patel shift roles; James Cleverly steps aside to pursue a London mayoral bid. The changes aim to strengthen the party’s economic team while inviting scrutiny over credibility.
Ministers have received final consultations on the Rosebank oil and Jackdaw gas fields and are preparing a decision that will balance jobs and energy security against climate concerns. Labour figures, industry groups and environmental campaigners are pressing ministers from different angles as the regulator and Energy Secretary complete their reviews.
The publicly owned Great British Energy has opened its Aberdeen HQ at Marischal Square, promising a £750,000 training partnership and five percent of roles in entry-level paths. The event features a royal appearance and remarks from GB Energy’s chief executive, government ministers, and opposition critics. Aberdeen is positioned as a hub for the UK’s energy transition, while timelines for direct job creation remain contested.
Conservatives have outlined a wide-ranging plan to cut red tape, scrap environmental rules, streamline housing development costs and back Heathrow expansion. The package, presented during the party conference, argues the changes will lower the cost of new homes by up to £50,000 and boost growth, while abolishing Natural England and the Environment Agency and replacing them with a streamlined regime.
The government has weighed final consent for the Jackdaw gas field and the Rosebank oil field, amid pressure from climate advocates and industry groups. Officials say a decision is imminent, with Jackdaw potentially delivering gas this winter, and Rosebank’s fate tied to environmental assessments.