PM joined by business minister at offshore wind farm

Business minister Kwasi Kwarteng has joined Prime Minister Boris Johnson on the second day of his two-day visit to Scotland.

The pair boarded the service operations vessel Esvagt Alba in Fraserburgh Harbour, Aberdeenshire, on Thursday morning before heading several miles out into the Moray Firth to the Moray East Offshore Wind Farm.

The 100-turbine development is currently under construction but began exporting its first power to the National Grid in June.

Keir Starmer is also in Scotland visiting a renewable energy project as the country prepares to host the COP26 climate conference.

The Prime Minister and the leader of the Labour Party made separate visits north of the border on Wednesday and will continue on Thursday.

Both MPs will tour renewable energy projects three months ahead of the international climate gathering.

Global leaders will attend the summit, to be held from October 31 to November 12, in what is seen as a critical moment for the future of the planet.

On Wednesday, the Prime Minister used his trip to promise that “all the money that is needed” will be given to fund the thousands of officers required to police COP26.

Starmer attacked Johnson as being “missing in action” in the lead-up to the summit, and told journalists there needed to be a firm timetable laid out to end the extraction and exploration of oil and gas in the North Sea.

He said the timetable must be partnered with a “truly just transition”.

“It’s got to be subject to consensus and agreement and we’ve got to bring communities with us on this, otherwise there will be a disconnect between the obligations that we have to deal with the climate crisis and the communities that are going to be affected,” he said.

Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon on Wednesday criticised the Prime Minister for rejecting an offer to meet in person to discuss the coronavirus pandemic.

She said: “I think most people will think it’s a bit odd, and a bit strange, that we’ve got a Prime Minister visiting Scotland who talks a lot, rightly, about the need – despite our political differences – for us to work together where we can on getting through Covid and into Covid recovery but doesn’t take the opportunity when in Scotland to come and talk to me directly about how we might cooperate and work together.”

When asked if he “snubbed” the invite, the Prime Minister told reporters: “No, I haven’t. I’m always delighted, always, always, always, delighted – and look, we, seriously, we work together.”