Anas Sarwar says Labour's plan for the windfall tax on oil and gas companies is aimed at "giants" like Shell and BP, not the biggest producer of fossil fuels in the UK's North Sea.
In a heated debate on the ChamberTalk podcast, the Scottish Labour leader repeatedly said his party's controversial policy is due to the "astronomical profits" made by "Shell, BP, others".
Harbour Energy, who produce more oil and gas in the UK North Sea than Shell, BP, or any other producer, saw profits of little more than £25m in 2023.
"When we talk about the oil and gas giants making record profits, we’re not talking about Harbour Energy we’re talking about your Shells, your BPs," Mr Sarwar told Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce's podcast.
The Glasgow MSP has previously mentioned the global profits made by energy companies in Holyrood, something he was questioned on during the podcast.
Continuously pushed by AGCC's Policy Director Ryan Crighton on the fact that Shell and BP's record profits were achieved globally, and not solely in the UK, Mr Sarwar insisted that the policy is targeting "huge companies making record profits", referencing Shell and BP regularly.
Sarwar: I'm a huge supporter of our oil and gas sector
The party chief was quick to talk about Labour's Green Prosperity Plan as a "suite of policies" and not focus on the proposed changes to the windfall tax.
"We’ve got to look at a holistic package," he said.
"I think it would be an act of folly if you were to look at the Green Prosperity Plan purely as being about the windfall tax. It is much, much bigger than that.
"This is the holistic plan that is about getting right balance in the North-east, with the oil and gas sector, but it’s also about recognising the deep energy and poverty inequality we have in our country and people, even in Aberdeen, are struggling to put food on the table.
"I’m not a green party politician that thinks that the oil and gas sector is some kind of enemy and at all costs it has to be shut down and the lights switched off.
"I’m a huge supporter of the sector, it has to play a significant role for decades to come, I just think you have to look at oil and gas policy and renewables policy beyond just the windfall tax. It’s a holistic plan and there are two sides in terms of outputs for the companies and the businesses, and also the lived experience for people across the country."
Listen now
The full episode is now available to listen to on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube.
As well as a heated debate on the windfall tax, host Finlay Jack presses Mr Sarwar on GB Energy, and there's a candid discussion on how racism impacted politics 30 years ago compared with its impacts today.