THE boss of Labour’s GB Energy will be based in England despite previous promises that it would be headquartered in Scotland.
Emails leaked to the Scottish Sun revealed that Juergen Maier – the former Siemens boss who was appointed to the role in July – will take up an office at the UK Government’s Trinity Bridge House building in Salford, Greater Manchester.
In a memo to staff announcing Maier’s arrival, a senior civil servant said: “The chair for GB Energy will be based in Salford.”
Keir Starmer announced at the Labour Party conference last month that GB Energy would be based in Aberdeen and led by the “talent and skills of working people in the Granite City”.
The Government also announced smaller offices would also open in Edinburgh and Glasgow.
The decision to base the boss in Greater Manchester has sparked criticism from other parties.
Alba MSP Ash Regan (below) said: “What message of commitment does it send to Scotland that absentee GB Energy chair Juergen Maier will be managing Aberdeen-based GB Energy from his home in Manchester?”
She continued: “Scotland has not forgotten Labour’s 2009 sell-off of British Energy – and will not be reassured by cheap soundbites, shiny HQ nameplates or the chair’s occasional visits north.”
Meanwhile, Scottish Conservative shadow energy secretary Douglas Lumsden said: “It is an insult to the north-east that the chair of GB Energy will be based hundreds of miles away.
“Common sense should have told Keir Starmer that the person running one of his flagship policies should be on the ground in Aberdeen.”
Scottish Labour MP and Energy Minister Michael Shanks (below) previously said that headquartering the company in Scotland would “make the most of the abundant existing expertise and skilled workforce”.
Despite repeated claims that the UK Labour Government would cut energy bills during the General Election, it has actually overseen an increase in the average household energy bill.
The scrapping of the Winter Fuel Payment for all those not in receipt of benefits will leave 85% of Scottish pensioners in poverty, according to charity Age Scotland.
Meanwhile, a new price cap introduced this month by energy regulator Ofgem will see the average household energy bill rise by £149.
A spokesperson for the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero said whilst Maier is currently resident in Manchester, he will travel “to engage businesses and partners in Scotland and across the UK”.
They continued: “Great British Energy will help make Britain a clean energy superpower, accelerating our journey to net zero through cheap, homegrown energy that will bring down bills and boost energy independence.
“It will be headquartered in Aberdeen, recognising the expertise, skilled workforce and diversity of projects already in place. The Chair and Board will also regularly spend time in the city, including with the local community and businesses.”
The SNP have been contacted for comment.
