Our Politics newsletter is now daily. Join thousands of others and get the latest Scottish politics news sent straight to your inbox. Subscribe Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

NICOLA Sturgeon was yesterday told to stop blaming Westminster and take the lead in helping save Scotland’s troubled oil industry.

The First Minister sparked anger by saying it’s up to David Cameron to act and bring “positive news” to North Sea workers.

Last night, a union leader called for an end to blame games and demanded a cross- government summit.

Unite organiser Pat Rafferty said: “The crisis isn’t going away. Westminster and Holyrood have offered little in the way of helping workers and their families and one blaming the other isn’t going to make any headway.

“We are calling for an urgent summit involving both governments, the industry and offshore trade unions to try to tackle this crisis and ensure we still have a safe and sustainable oil and gas future.”

More than 65,000 jobs have been shed in the offshore industry and wider supply chain since the global price started to fall.

The SNP forecast revenues of £7.9billion in 2016-17.

But predictions are now as low as £600million after the oil price plummeted from more than $100 a barrel before the referendum to about $30.

On TV yesterday, Sturgeon insisted the UK Government were to blame for the North Sea crisis. She said: “Our projections were not out of line with external projections.

“Let’s hear more about what the UK Government – who wanted so much to keep the levers that affect the North Sea in their hands – are going to do. I hope in the next few days we hear positive news about support for the North Sea and a city deal for Aberdeen.”

Sturgeon claimed onshore revenue is expected to “significantly outstrip” decline in offshore revenue over the next few years.

She added: “I take responsibility for perhaps not getting this argument across – the case for Scotland being a strong, independent country was never based on oil.”

Scottish Labour MSP Jackie Baillie claimed the SNP were in “utter denial”.

She added: “This is the biggest jobs crisis facing Scotland since Ravenscraig.

Thousands have already lost their jobs and thousands more are at risk because of the low oil price.”