SNP position on oil profits ‘more extreme than Trump’

Climate campaigners have said that the SNP’s position on huge oil profits is “more extreme than Trump” after he called for oil companies to pay more tax.

Trump said of oil firms “They’re making too much money based on a shortage, I dont like it”. Speaking to reporters at the White House, he continued: “They’re going to give some of that back to the public and they better cut the retail price, the consumer price.””

The SNP have repeatedly called an end to the Windfall Tax on oil profits despite these firms making £125 billion in the UK since the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The Windfall Tax raised over £9billion from 2022-2025.

Oxfam analysis shows that the world’s six biggest fossil fuel corporations are expected to nearly double their combined net income in the second quarter of 2026, jumping from £17.1billion (US$23B) in the previous quarter to £33.4 billion (US$45B).

BP announced £4.27 billion in profits yesterday with Shell declaring £7.37 billion last week. There doesn’t appear to have been any criticism of these profits from senior SNP figures but instead the First Minister, the Economy Minister Stephen Flynn and Jack Middleton MSP have all called for the Windfall tax on these excessive energy profits to be scrapped.

Friends of the Earth Scotland’s oil and gas campaigns manager Rosie Hampton said:

“The SNP’s position on obscene oil profits is more extreme than Trump’s. It shows you how out of touch the SNP are that they would rather wealthy shareholders kept the proceeds of war rather than taxing these companies to support vital public services.”

“The immoral profiteers who run these companies don’t care about the impact of their oil and gas on people or the environment. Even Trump thinks they are too greedy.

“Trump is often loudly and spectacularly wrong about energy policy but he’s much closer to common sense on this rare occasion.

“When you see the disgusting profits reaped by Shell, BP and their allies, who are also rolling back on green energy promises and laying off workers, it is infuriating that politicians are siding with them instead of the public. Instead of pleading for polluter’s profits, the Scottish Government should be focused on building an energy system that brings down bills, is based on renewables and run in the public interest.”

ENDS