At our third Scottish 2030 Collective event in Glasgow yesterday, bringing together inhouse PR, PA and communication leaders from across energy, transmission and major infrastructure delivery, the timing of the conversation was impossible to ignore. With a Scottish Parliament election imminent, the long‑term projects that will shape Scotland well beyond this electoral cycle are now sitting firmly inside an intensely political debate.
Across all parties, energy and infrastructure feature prominently in their manifestos – but with sharply diverging approaches to pace, power and public consent.
The SNP has positioned energy as a cornerstone of economic sovereignty, with commitments around market reform, grid investment and accelerating nationally significant infrastructure delivery, alongside a pledge to reform planning and consenting processes. Scottish Labour, by contrast, frames infrastructure primarily through growth, skills and delivery competence – treating energy, housing and transport as economic infrastructure that must be faster, clearer and more predictable to unlock jobs and investment.
Meanwhile, the Scottish Conservatives are campaigning on affordability and restraint, backing traditional energy alongside selective net‑zero investment, and placing stronger emphasis on community veto and opposition to infrastructure perceived as imposed. The Scottish Greens continue to push for rapid decarbonisation, publicly owned energy and community benefit at scale, with far less tolerance for transitional technologies.
Communities are no longer a ‘nice to have’
Regardless of political colour, one message was clear at our Glasgow discussion: projects succeed or fail on community confidence. Manifestos increasingly acknowledge this, but delivery still lags bold ambition.
Attendees spoke candidly about moving away from institutional language and jargon towards explanation rooted in lived experience – what a project means for jobs, bills, reliability and place. One practical example shared was the power of comparison: showing communities what past infrastructure looked like, what has changed, and why modernisation matters now.
Another idea gaining traction was a community‑led benefit wish list – not a fixed offer, but a living conversation shaped by local priorities as projects move from consent to construction.
Long-term delivery in a short-term political cycle
With local government elections following in 2027, and major projects extending well beyond a single parliamentary term, there was realism about political volatility. The UK Government’s retreat from hydrogen funding remains a live issue for Scottish gas networks, creating tension between devolved ambition and reserved decision‑making.
Against this backdrop, attendees emphasised the need to be bold – but disciplined. Using data, independent research and credible proof points to make the case for projects that deliver economic resilience, supply‑chain opportunity and long‑term value.
Research partnerships, including work commissioned through respected Scottish economic institutes, were highlighted as critical to maintaining credibility amid political noise.
From policy debate to visible progress
Finally, attention turned to what happens after election day: new MSPs, site visits, and a renewed window for engagement. These moments matter. They shape how infrastructure is understood, framed and ultimately supported.
The message from Glasgow was not cynicism about politics – but clarity. Scotland’s energy and infrastructure future will be political. The task now is to meet that reality with focus, confidence and community at the centre.