An Aberdeen South by-election candidate has accused Ed Miliband of pushing the North Sea oil and gas industry "into extinction" as concerns mount over job losses across the sector. 

Douglas Lumsden has written to the Energy Secretary urging him to visit Aberdeen, accusing the minister of not visiting the city for more than 18 months, whilst highlighting fears of potential job losses. 

The Conservative MP hopeful said:
“Over the last week, EnerMech and Xodus Group became the latest oil and gas companies to announce that jobs were at risk, adding to the thousands that have already been lost due to your hostility towards the sector. 

“In recent months, Harbour Energy, BP, Apache, Verlume, Well-Safe Solutions, Hunting, Altrad, Kaefer, Bilfinger, Wood Group, Chevron and Weatherford have all signalled their intention to downsize amid the growing uncertainty caused by your policies, which are pushing our great oil and gas industry into extinction."

He warned that Labour's decision not to reverse its ban on new oil and gas exploration licences could have serious consequences for businesses and employment in the North-east, the P&J reports. 

Mr Lumsden argued that restricting domestic production would increase reliance on imported energy while threatening jobs and investment.

His comments come after the General Secretary of the GMB union accused the government of pursuing an ideological approach to energy policy that is "destroying" jobs.

Speaking on Times Radio, Gary Smith compared the impact of Labour's energy policies on industrial communities to the effects of Margaret Thatcher's economic reforms.

Original article   l   KeyFacts Energy news: Aberdeen Focus