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Kemi Badenoch is campaigning in Scotland ahead of the 2026 Holyrood election
Kemi Badenoch says the Scottish Parliament is “paying lip service” to the oil and gas industry, and claimed that Russell Findlay could be the next First Minister.
The UK Conservative leader was campaigning in Edinburgh on Thursday when she made the comments, setting out her party’s vision for “fuel Britannia”.
She also urged voters to back her party on the regional peach ballot on May 7, saying only the Scottish Conservatives are serious about standing up for the union.
Kemi Badenoch speaking to activists in Edinburgh | Euan Cherry/Press AssociationSpeaking to the media at a rally in the capital, Ms Badenoch said: “A lot of the problems are in Westminster with Ed Miliband’s failed net zero ideology and the legislation that he’s put in place.
“What we can do in the Scottish Parliament is make sure there is a consensus - a strong First Minister who cares about the oil and gas industry, who cares about energy in Scotland, should be able to change the policy to make it very difficult for Westminster.
“The industry right now is in an emergency - they need all the help they can get that needs full-throated support.”
Ms Badenoch added: “They can do other things around planning, for example, around local taxes, those sorts of things would be a more sensible thing for the Scottish Parliament to be doing rather than what they’re doing right now, which is just paying lip service to the industry.”
Ms Badenoch, who was flanked by Mr Findlay and Shadow Scottish Secretary Andrew Bowie, vowed her party will stand up for the union and fight against the SNP’s independence ideology.
She said: “Vote Scottish Conservative on the peach ballot paper, because then you will have people who are serious about making people’s lives better.
Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay, UK Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, and Shadow Scottish Secretary Andrew Bowie at the Edinburgh rally. | Euan Cherry/Press Association“The SNP and Labour have ruined Scotland - all we have seen is the Scottish NHS and the education system getting worse under them and we’re fed up with that.
“We’ve had enough - no more.
She added: “Reform and the Greens think this is just a game, and the Lib Dems, I don’t think they even know why they’re there.
“We need to keep our union together so on May 7, I urge you, if you care about the union, there’s only one party that will support you and that is the Scottish Conservatives.”