Michael Marra, newly elected leader of Scottish Labour, has expressed support for the development of the Rosebank and Jackdaw oil and gasfields in the North Sea, describing his preferred direction as a "more rational" approach to energy policy.
Leadership victory
Marra, the Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for North East Scotland, secured the party leadership with a near two-thirds majority, becoming Scottish Labour's 11th leader. He succeeds Anas Sarwar, who resigned in July to accept a post as a trade minister in Andy Burnham's new government.
Energy stance
One of Marra's first public interventions since his election was to back the two North Sea projects. He framed the endorsement as part of a broader call for a pragmatic and measured energy strategy, arguing that policy should be guided by what he described as a more rational assessment of energy needs and resources.
Political context
Marra’s comments come at the outset of his tenure as leader in Holyrood and are likely to shape early discussions within Scottish Labour on energy and economic strategy. The position marks an early statement of priorities as he settles into the role and prepares to lead the party in the devolved parliament.
Next steps
Marra’s views on the Rosebank and Jackdaw developments will now form part of internal party debate and public scrutiny as Scottish Labour outlines its programme under his leadership. Further detail on how this approach will be translated into specific policy measures has not yet been published by the party.