LABOUR have been slammed yet again over the "scandal" of GB Energy after the latest figures revealed the vast majority of staff it has hired are not permanent.
The UK Government's flagship policy has been marred in chaos since the Labour Party made a number of key pledges during the 2024 General Election campaign – including that the publicly-owned energy company would be headquartered in Aberdeen, where it would also create 1000 jobs, and that energy bills would be cut by £300.
In the months which have followed, little progress has been made on establishing a headquarters in Aberdeen – with the location of a permanent HQ announced in February this year, more than 19 months after Labour took power.
It has now been revealed that just 30 permanent staff members have been hired for GB Energy – with the 102 other staff members employed on a temporary basis, or as contingent labour staff from other public sector roles.
This means that less than a quarter (22.7%) of GB Energy staff are permanent employees.
The total staffing numbers are as follows:
- 30 permanent staff members
- 37 civil servants temporarily assigned from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
- 21 staff on loan to GB Energy from other UK Government departments
- 12 staff seconded from external organisations and different areas across the UK Government
- 32 contingent staff – made up of freelancers, independent contractors, consultants and temporary agency employees
The figures were disclosed by UK Energy Minister Michael Shanks – who came under fire last year after The National revealed he had made just one trip to Aberdeen relating to GB Energy since being appointed as minister – in a written answer to Tory MP Harriet Cross.
The figures do not reveal how many staff are based in Scotland – with The National exclusively reporting last year that more GB Energy staff were employed in London than in the entirety of Scotland, despite Aberdeen being touted as the company's headquarters.
In November, GB Energy CEO Dan McGrail told the Scottish Affairs Committee that 96 roles were being recruited at the time, 92% of which would be in Scotland, and 72% of those which would be based solely in Aberdeen.
He also pledged 100 roles would be based in Aberdeen within a year.
The latest figures have been slammed by the SNP, who branded GB Energy a "scandal".
Richard Thomson, SNP candidate for the upcoming Aberdeen South by-election on June 18, told The National: "Westminster promised GB Energy would create thousands of roles in the North East and bring down energy bills. Instead they cast thousands of jobs on the scrapheap while energy bills soar to £600 higher than Westminster promised.
“It is a complete scandal that GB Energy money was used to fund nuclear power and solar panels in England while all Scotland got was job losses on an industrial scale."
Thomson said that at next month's by-election, "the Tories and Reform are lining up to continue that betrayal of the north-east and treat our North Sea resources as a cash cow".
"Only the SNP can stop Reform and the Tories," he said.
Thomson continued: “To make our vast energy wealth work for us, Scotland’s energy must be in Scotland’s hands – that's how we protect jobs, lower energy bills and build a wealthier Scotland anew.”
A GB Energy spokesperson said: "Great British Energy is focussed on driving the clean energy transition which will deliver a more secure and independent energy system for the UK.
"We are proud to be based in Aberdeen, a world-leading energy hub which has been crucial to our energy security for decades. We look forward to moving into our permanent headquarters later this year."
