Last week’s budget resulted in shambolic confusion over the future of Acorn, a totemic carbon capture project at the heart of Scotland’s energy transition, exposing divisions within the UK Government on the direction of energy policy.

Only last year, on a flying visit to St. Fergus, then-Energy Secretary Ed Miliband signalled the UK Government’s support for Acorn, announcing £200 million in grant funding.

The latest Budget appears to roll back on that support, triggering uncertainty over the UK Government’s commitment to the project.

The detailed documentation accompanying the Budget suggests that the grant funding for Acorn has largely disappeared, replaced – we are told – by access to loans and equity funding.

The region’s business community and politicians were quick to ask questions but in the 24 hours following the chancellor’s statement UK ministers only muddied the waters further as they attempted to scramble a reactive line.

DESNZ minister Martin McClusky MP offered “clarification”........

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