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Commentary submitted by Tessa Khan in their own words.

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Labour obsessed with internal drama, says Badenoch as Tories win by-election

Tessa Khan, executive director of Uplift, said: “It is no surprise that the Conservatives have won in what is an historically Tory seat or that the future of energy has dominated.

“People in Aberdeen have been badly served for decades, with successive governments watching the ageing North Sea’s inevitable decline but refusing to properly plan for their future.

“Yet, even today, Kemi Badenoch has no credible plan for the future of the workforce or UK energy security.

“The Conservatives spent 14 years trying to ‘max out’ the North Sea, issuing hundreds of new licences, which have to date produced just over a month’s worth of gas.

“Jobs supported by the oil and gas industry more than halved in the decade to 2024 under the last Conservative government.

“The biggest beneficiaries of more North Sea drilling will be the multinational companies that own and profit from these reserves – not these communities that need long-term planning and investment.

“It will do nothing to lower bills, as the UK has burned most of its gas and most of the oil is exported.

“The message for the SNP and Labour governments – who also are responsible for ensuring we have a safe climate and decent future for our children – is that they must now urgently deliver for workers.

“That means ramping up their plans to create enough good, secure jobs in renewables and other industries and support for workers into these jobs.

“This is the future for Aberdeen’s economy, not a pipedream.”

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