Reeves denies blame for North Sea job losses

RACHEL REEVES has denied that 1,000 jobs are being lost in the North Sea oil and gas sector every month as a result of UK Government policies.

- BY BEN BORLAND

Speaking on a visit to Grangemouth yesterday, the Chancellor insisted the vast majority of energy roles disappeared under the previous Conservative government at Westminster.

Estimates by the Aberdeenbased Robert Gordon University suggest 400 jobs are being lost across the North Sea industries every fortnight. And industry lobby group Offshore Energies UK blamed a windfall tax on energy giants' profits for causing the thousands of lay-offs.

The Energy Profits Levy (EPL) was introduced by the Tories when oil and gas prices spiked after the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

However, the temporary tax has been increased from 25% to 38% and extended to 2030 by Labour.

Asked whether she believed the claims about "1,000 job losses a month" were accurate, Ms Reeves replied: "No I don't."