FIRST Minister John Swinney has accused the Prime Minister of “standing idly by” as new figures reveal seven out of ten of the most expensive places to buy fuel are in Scotland.
Swinney has said that Starmer is “standing idly by as the energy crisis deepens” with new figures showing Scots being hit hardest at the pumps.
He added that Scottish people fully understand that “Westminster and the UK Labour Government have the powers to act – they are making the political choice to do nothing.”
New data from Fuel Finder revealed that seven of the ten most expensive places to buy diesel in the UK are in Scotland, including the highest price in the UK at £2.29 per litre in Thurso.
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The SNP has repeatedly challenged the Labour Party to act on fuel and in his latest update Swinney said:
“With Scots paying ever higher prices at the pumps, the Prime Minister has been standing idly by as the energy crisis deepens - for families and businesses across Scotland this is now an emergency.
“Westminster and the UK Labour Government have the powers to act – they are making the political choice to do nothing.
“This emergency situation demands action now. The fact that an energy superpower like Scotland is being forced to pay the highest prices for fuel in the UK just does not add up and is a scandal of Westminster’s making. We need serious action to bring down prices right now.”
The call comes as Donald Trump agreed to a provisional two-week ceasefire in the Iran war after pulling back at the last-minute from his warning that “a whole civilisation will die”.
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Swinney finished: “If Keir Starmer chooses to do nothing to help people with the price at the pumps – the Labour Party will deservedly pay the price on polling day.
“The ongoing energy emergency shows why Scotland needs a fresh start with independence and full control over our huge energy wealth - and that is exactly what the SNP is offering on 7th May.”
The criticism comes after Starmer faced backlash over the UK's silence after Donald Trump threatened to eradicate Iran.
The full list of top 10 most expensive places to buy diesel today amid Iran crisis:
- Bettyhill General Merchants, Bettyhill, Thurso, KW14 7SP - 229.0p/L
- Mackenzie Stories, Staffin, Portress, IV51 9JS - 228.9p/L
- Remills Motor Engineers, Rothley, Leicester, LE7 7NU - 219.6p/L
- Cuxton Auto Services, Cuxton, Rochester, ME2 1LH - 218.0p/L
- M B S Building Supplies, Whiting Bay, Isle of Arran, KA27 8PR - 217.0p/L
- Cluanie Inn Hotel, Glenmoriston, Inverness, IV63 7YW - 214.8p/L
- Ashley Road Garage, Ryde, PO33 4BB - 212.9p/L
- A & C Maclean, Castlebay, Isle of Barra, HS9 5XD - 210.0p/L
- Racetrack Crowwood, Chryston, Glasgow, BG69 9AD - 209.9p/L
- Shell, Silvie Way, Forfar, DD8 1BF - 209.9p/L
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