Photo via Daily Mail

Finally, Swinney breaks with Sturgeon... and backs drilling in the North Sea

Read the original at Daily Mail ↗
Cite

Scottish, M. B. (2026, November 5). Finally, Swinney breaks with Sturgeon... and backs drilling in the North Sea. Daily Mail. https://www.dailymail.com/news/article-16269539/Finally-Swinney-breaks-Sturgeon-backs-drilling-North-Sea.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490

Dated from the outlet's own feed. Check the original for its byline.

Daily Mail · collected 2026-11-05 · by Michael Blackley Scottish

Quick Summary

John Swinney, the Deputy First Minister of Scotland, announced a reversal in the Scottish Government's stance on North Sea drilling, previously opposing new licenses under Nicola Sturgeon's "presumption against" policy. Swinney now supports certain drilling projects while opposing a UK government bill that would ban further drilling, citing the need to balance carbon reduction targets with continued oil and gas usage for energy security. This shift came after pressure from Reform UK’s Scottish leader Lord Malcolm Offord, who welcomed Swinney's change of heart as beneficial for Aberdeen’s economy.
Written by AI on 2026-11-05, from this article's own text only (the story summary below draws on all the coverage).

AI analysis

Story summary

On November 5, 2026, John Swinney, the Scottish First Minister, stated that his government does not support provisions in the UK Government's Energy Independence Bill that would ban new licenses for exploring oil and gas fields. This position marks a shift from the previous stance set by Nicola Sturgeon. During questioning at First Minister’s Questions, Swinney defended the move by asserting that each application needs to be evaluated based on its impact on carbon reduction targets, while also emphasizing Scotland's continued reliance on oil and gas for years to come. Malcolm Offord, leader of Reform UK in Scotland, welcomed this change as a step towards re-industrializing and energizing the country. However, Labour criticized Swinney’s reversal, suggesting that the SNP will seek to remove the ban proposal from the Energy Independence Bill or vote against it if unsuccessful.

Written for “Swinney Breaks With Sturgeon On Drilling” on 2026-11-06, grounded in this article and the 1 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
The article's own words the score was based on. Each is quoted verbatim and was checked against the article text before being stored, so you can find it in the original.
Reading Leans right (beta estimate) Confidence high 1 quote(s) discarded as not found in the article
Leaning: leans right for article 132479 (high confidence, 2 verified quotes) · logged 2026-11-05

Story

📰 Swinney Breaks With Sturgeon On Drilling
Politics · 2 article(s) covering the same event. See how they differ ↓

Compared with similar articles

This article reads leans right and hedges 0% of its claims. Each row says how that neighbour differs.
John Swinney's former depute Kate Forbes piles pressure on him to back more North Sea drilling Different event
Daily Mail
Hedges 1 of 24 claims Outlet record 69/100
“The articles describe different stages of an evolving situation regarding North Sea drilling, with Article A focusing on pressure from Kate Forbes and Article B reporting Swinney's official stance after a period of indecision.”
Tories' North Sea security fears amid growing threat from Russia and China Different event
Daily Mail
⚖️ Leans strongly right further right than this Hedges 1 of 33 claims Outlet record 69/100
“The articles discuss different aspects of North Sea energy policies but do not describe the same specific incident or occurrence.”
Swinney: Scottish Government does not back ban on new oil and gas Same event
Evening Standard
Hedges 0 of 16 claims Outlet record 64/100
How this article was measured signals, leaning charts, publisher record, byline, topics and claims

Signals How these are calculated →

Claims extracted
17
sentences that state something as happening or true
Uncertain
0%
0 of 17 hedged ("reportedly", "may", "according to")
Leaning
Leans right
of the writing, not the subject · beta estimate
Publisher signals
69/100
Daily Mail's corrections and hedging, across everything collected from it. Not a measure of accuracy.
Outlets on this story
2
Politics
Same framing elsewhere
1
articles that frame the event the way this one does
Analyzed 2026-11-05 · how these are computed

How this is being covered How these are calculated →

Article leaning vs. publisher reliability
Source leaning vs. consistency

Publisher

Daily Mail · 9583 article(s) · 22 correction(s) detected
Running correction rate · 22 correction(s)
2026-11-02
Inmates dob in their jailers: Female officer 'smashed' on vodka, sex tape claims and alleged staff drug busts engulf Victoria's prisons
2026-11-01
Angus Taylor blasts the Albanese government over release of convicted terrorist linked to alleged Bondi gunman: 'Not good enough'
2026-10-30
Bachelor star Sam Wood seeks bail after almost a month behind bars over alleged attack on wife Snezana while on holiday in Noosa
2026-10-27
Wheel of Fortune announcer Jim Thornton update: Witness who claims to have seen star in 'pedophilia' chatroom has still not been contacted by FBI
2026-10-27
Manhunt launched after murderer who buried victim's body beneath his home escapes from Tennessee prison
2026-10-27
'I can get a gun for 10 grand': Secretly recorded jail call played to Beau Lamarre-Condon murder trial
2026-10-26
Escalation in '$100,000 cocaine raid' that rocked Brighton: Ex-private schoolboy hit with two more charges as police allege drug debtors list found on phone
2026-10-13
Daily Mail journalist KARLEIGH SMITH confronts Snowtown serial killer James Vlassakis as he tastes freedom for the first time in 26 years: 'What do you have to say for yourself?'
2026-10-13
Sam Wood is moved to Queensland's most feared prison: 'Pretty boy' Bachelor's brutal new reality with 'the worst of the worst'
2026-10-08
Russian plague victim's grieving mother denies scientist daughter was infected after breaking test tube - as PPE-clad team disinfect her home
2026-10-04
Prison chief stands down over botched execution
2026-10-03
Tennessee prison chief who oversaw botched execution of Christa Pike resigns, governor announces
2026-09-25
Twisted teacher who started school FIGHT CLUB and encouraged children to attack each other is given shockingly lenient punishment
2026-09-22
Melbourne inmate vanished without trace while carrying his brother's coffin 150 days ago - and cops are still hunting him
2026-09-21
Magistrate blasts Melbourne marketing mum Christina Georgiou over 'despicable' $50,000 fraud: How a master's graduate with a drug debt ended up rorting Covid and flood relief schemes
2026-09-18
Female corrections officer fired and arrested over claims she sneaked her home cooked meals into jail to give to inmates
2026-09-18
Woke NYC mayor offers condolences after alleged murderer, 20, dies in custody... but makes NO mention of his disabled victim
2026-09-15
Infamous prisoner known for his 'stop snitching' slogan DISAPPEARS during transfer from one federal prison to another
2026-09-15
Charles Manson's 'right-hand man' dies in prison at 83 after his parole was blocked 8 times
2026-09-15
Jeffrey Epstein's suicide watch 'companion' insists paedophile financier DID kill himself after becoming 'defeated' in his final days
2026-09-07
The evidence Epstein did NOT kill himself: Lawyer and pathologist reveal details they claim indicate the paedophile WAS murdered in jail in new documentary
2026-09-06
Clarifications and corrections

Who wrote this

Michael Blackley Scottish
13 article(s) here · 1 carrying a prediction
🔮 The First Minister yesterday said he opposes the new law proposed by the UK Government which would prevent further drilling.
2026-11-05 · assertive framing · Finally, Swinney breaks with Sturgeon... and backs drilling in the North Sea
🔮 She added: ‘In some situations, that may take some time to ensure that people are redeployed effectively.
2026-10-26 · assertive framing · SNP minister admits it will 'take some time' to redeploy 'ghost workers' who have no formal role
🔮 The workers might ordinarily have been made redundant but this cannot happen due to the SNP Government’s ban on compulsory redundancies.
2026-10-25 · assertive framing · £27m for 'ghost workers'
in Scottish public sector
🔮 I will not put up with that same kind of abusive, misogynistic behaviour that I have been subjected to from the leadership clique here in Scotland.
2026-10-25 · assertive framing · MSP says she was forced to quit Reform due to its 'toxic culture' for women
🔮 It followed his announcement in his SNP conference address that the move would be completed through franchising and regulation by 2031.
2026-10-19 · assertive framing · Swinney hit back over dictator jibe and says he finds it 'laughable'
🔮 He is expected to promote his plan for deeper devolution from Westminster to local communities of Scotland – but is set to steer clear of the North East amid mounting concern about the impact of job losses caused by his government’s approach to North Sea licensing and taxation.
2026-10-13 · assertive framing · Andy Burnham urged to end North Sea drilling 'dither' as he prepares for major Scotland visit
🔮 Ms Stevenson then asked whether Transport Scotland’s staff would be transferred to the Scottish Government via TUPE (Transfer of Undertakings Protection of Employment), legislation under the SNP’s plan to bring it back into the core Scottish Government.
2026-09-17 · assertive framing · Holyrood 'numpty nursery' jibe after blundering SNP and Green MSPs show the Scottish Parliament 'in very poor light'
🔮 On the continuing work to develop the new Mycare.scot app, which will not be completed until 2030, they said: ‘License the English NHS app.
2026-09-16 · assertive framing · Now even ex-SNP health chief wants walk-in GP centres axed and English NHS app used in Scotland
🔮 - Click here to visit the Scotland home page for the latest news and sport - See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred Source Scotland risks missing out on increased defence spending if persistent skills shortages are not addressed while the negative approach to the industry by the SNP Government may be damaging jobs, a new report by a powerful Westminster committee warns.
2026-09-15 · assertive framing · SNP Government's attitude to defence is 'damaging' prospects north of the Border
🔮 ‘This is a clueless First Minister who cannot say how many NHS jobs could be lost, yet expects Scots to believe he has a grip on the SNP’s £5billion budget black hole.
2026-09-06 · assertive framing · 'Clueless' John Swinney fails to answer simple questions about his public sector reform sparking accusations he's out of his depth
Also by Michael Blackley Scottish
SNP minister admits it will 'take some time' to redeploy 'ghost workers' who have no formal role
2026-10-26 · Daily Mail
Reform civil war deepens: MSP accuses ex-colleague Amanda Bland of shouting at staff after her explosive claims
2026-10-26 · Daily Mail
MSP says she was forced to quit Reform due to its 'toxic culture' for women
2026-10-25 · Daily Mail
£27m for 'ghost workers'
in Scottish public sector
2026-10-25 · Daily Mail
Nothing else under this byline is closely related to this article, so these are simply their most recent.
All 13 articles by Michael Blackley Scottish →

Topics

Labour SNP Scotland Scottish the UK Government

Subjects

Scotland GPE · 4× Swinney PERSON · 4× Scottish NORP · 3× Labour ORG · 2× Reform ORG · 2× SNP ORG · 2× the UK Government ORG · 2× John Swinney PERSON · 1× Nicola Sturgeon PERSON · 1× the Scottish Government ORG · 1×

Narrative

Mr Swinney said he supports some measures in the Bill, but said: ‘We do not support the provisions of that Bill in relation to the position on the granting of new licences for the exploration of new oil and gas fields for the simple reason… that any particular applications need to be considered in relation to their impact on our carbon reduction targets, given the fact that we are going to be using oil and gas for some years to come.’
framing: assertive · carried by 1 article(s) · first seen 2026-11-05
🔮 The First Minister yesterday said he opposes the new law proposed by the UK Government which would prevent further drilling.
2026-11-05 · Daily Mail
Finally, Swinney breaks with Sturgeon... and backs drilling in the North Sea · assertive framing

Claims (17 extracted, 0 hedged)

John Swinney has confirmed that his government is opposed to Labour’s ban on all new North Sea drilling as he finally confirmed a U-turn on its previous ‘presumption against’ new licences. asserted
he → confirm → licences
The First Minister yesterday said he opposes the new law proposed by the UK Government which would prevent further drilling. asserted
which → say → drilling
His spokesman also confirmed that the SNP will seek to get the proposal removed from the Energy Independence Bill and if they fail to do so the party will vote against the legislation at Westminster. asserted
party → confirm → Westminster
Mr Swinney’s comments at First Minister’s Questions are the first official confirmation that the Scottish Government has formally moved away from the ‘presumption against’ all new licences introduced by Nicola Sturgeon, which was set out in a previous draft energy strategy. asserted
which → move → strategy
It comes after he last week repeatedly refused to say whether he supports the Rosebank development getting the go-ahead despite being asked the question on seven separate occasions. asserted
development → come → occasions
Reform UK’s Scottish leader Lord Malcolm Offord pressed the First Minister on the issue of new drilling yesterday as he questioned why Mr Swinney’s SNP has ‘given up on Scotland’s oil’. asserted
SNP → press → oil
He said that the proposed Bill bringing a statutory end to any new North Sea licences ‘is a seismic moment for the UK economy which sounds a death knell for Aberdeen’. asserted
which → say → Aberdeen
The Jackdaw field was finally given the green light last month The First Minister said on Thursday that he opposes the new law proposed by the UK Government which would prevent further drilling Lord Offord, Reform's leader in Scotland, said he was 'delighted' to hear the First Minister had done another U-turn on his position on the North Sea asserted
Minister → give → Sea
Mr Swinney said he supports some measures in the Bill, but said: ‘We do not support the provisions of that Bill in relation to the position on the granting of new licences for the exploration of new oil and gas fields for the simple reason… that any particular applications need to be considered in relation to their impact on our carbon reduction targets, given the fact that we are going to be using oil and gas for some years to come.’ asserted
we → say → years
Lord Offord said: ‘I’m delighted to hear the First Minister do yet another U-turn on his position. asserted
Minister → say → position
During later exchanges yesterday, Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay asked the First Minister whether he would tell Nationalist MPs to vote against Labour’s ban on new drilling. asserted
he → ask → drilling
The First Minister failed to directly respond, saying only that Reform and the Conservatives have asked him the same questions and he has set out the government position. asserted
he → fail → position
Following his exchanges, Mr Findlay said: ‘Andy Burnham’s attack on North Sea oil and gas will be catastrophic for Scottish jobs, energy security and Scotland’s economy. asserted
attack → follow → jobs
‘All he has to offer is increasingly shrill and desperate deflection. asserted
he → have → ?
‘My party will always back Scotland’s oil and gas industry.’ asserted
party → back → industry
A spokesman for the First Minister later said: ‘We will seek to get those provisions removed from the Bill as it goes through parliament. asserted
it → say → parliament
‘If those provisions are in the Bill when it goes to its final vote we can’t support the Bill.’ asserted
we → go → Bill
💬Give feedback · no sign-in needed

No sign-in needed for now. Your note is sent without a name, so it cannot be answered.

🕘History 🎫Support
Terms · Privacy · beta v2.0.0
Articles to 6 Nov 2026