Major polluters bought champagne reception for senior Scottish Greens

SUNDAY MAIL EXCLUSIVE: The Scottish Greens have refused to say whether they knew a trade body had members including some of the world's biggest polluters before they agreed to take their money.

Some of the world’s biggest polluters sponsored an exclusive champagne reception for senior Scottish Greens at their own party conference.

One of Europe’s largest CO2 emitters, an oil giant and a firm accused of funding environmentally damaging projects are among those whose cash was used to pay for the event in October 2023.

Billed as an “ invitation only opportunity to talk to MSPs, councillors and observers ”, the intimate drinks reception was sponsored by lobbying trade body Solar Energy Scotland, which advocates on behalf of its members on solar power issues.

On the same day as the boozy meeting, then minister Lorna Slater announced a new government policy to boost solar energy provision across the country with a joint statement being released by the her party and Solar Energy Scotland.

The drinks event is not listed in the lobbying register by the trade body or in any records of ministerial meetings.

Green party members have slammed the Sunday Mail ’s findings and called for an explanation.

Ellie Gomersall, former co-chair of the Scottish Greens, said: “As co-chair at the time I was not aware of the reception in 2023 nor was I invited.

“As I have already raised internally, I am deeply uncomfortable with the party advertising exclusive opportunities to talk to ministers in exchange for money.

“If the sponsors of one such event coincided with governmental policy announcements this is particularly disturbing not least if this encounter was with an organisation complicit in greenwashing and was concerningly absent from the lobbying register.

“As Greens we must maintain our roots as a party of radical democracy and transparency - we simply must do better.”

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Among Solar Energy Scotland’s members are oil giant BP’s solar arm ‘Lighthouse BP’, EDF Energy’s renewables branch, Tata Steel and German utility firm RWE.

RWE runs coal plants in Europe and was found to be one of the continent’s largest CO2 emitters in 2020.

Another member is investment firm Blackrock which was criticised by campaigners for giving “billions of dollars into companies that are destroying our climate.”

It comes after the Greens were accused of offering access to their MSPs for cash prompting calls for First Minister John Swinney to investigate any potential breaches of the ministerial code.

At the time the Greens were offering access to their ministers and MSPs the party was still in Government.

Adverts in their conference brochures said lobbyists could get an “exclusive table to talk to ministers, MSPs and members” if they sponsored the conference lunch for £700.

A senior source who attended the champagne reception said it was for the party’s “inner circle” only.

They said: “It wasn’t an open event. Only the senior people in the party were invited.

“Lorna and Patrick were there and their senior staff, all the MSPs. It wasn’t particularly enjoyable and had I known it was being paid for by these companies I would have objected to it and certainly wouldn’t have attended.”

Niall Christie, who stood for the Greens in Glasgow South at the General Election said: “The Scottish Greens are a party of radical democracy. That should mean democracy isn’t for sale.

“If we’ve accepted sponsorship from a group working on behalf of some of the world’s biggest polluters we really need to look at ourselves.

“I’ve raised my own concerns on this and I hope the party takes these seriously.

“This latest example is no different and does nothing but undermine the excellent work of our elected representatives, staff and volunteers.

“While Sir Keir Starmer’s government seems to put a price on anything, we should be doubling down on our commitment to transparency and holding ourselves to a higher standard.”

George Baxter, vice chairman of Solar Energy Scotland, said: “Prior to the announcement of a 4-6GW deployment ambition for solar power in Scotland, Solar Energy Scotland had of course met or communicated with all the Holyrood political parties, including the Greens, over a period of many months to give them information on solar energy’s capacity to help decarbonisation, promote green jobs, and cut bills.

“I was the only representative of Solar Energy Scotland present at this event, which none of our member organisations attended as far as I’m aware.

“I always register relevant communications covered by the Lobbying Act: that includes meetings with political parties as part of my day job but would not cover a social event of this sort.

“I did not take part in future policy discussions beyond welcoming the announcement made earlier in the day.”

The Scottish Greens did not respond when asked whether they knew that Solar Energy Scotland’s members included some of the world’s biggest polluters before allowing the sponsorship.

A Scottish Greens spokesman said there was “no discussion” of government business at the reception which was "sponsored by Solar Energy Scotland and nobody else."

He said: “The Scottish Greens have always supported solar energy and are proud of the work that we have done to push for it both in government and opposition.

“The expansion of renewable energy has been at the core of our politics for as long as the party has existed.

“An informal exhibitor reception takes place after every conference and has done for years.

“It was an informal reception that was open to MSPs and councillors as well as all stall holders and sponsors.

“Any discussions Ministers had about government business over the course of our conference were recorded through their private offices.”

The Sunday Mail tried to contact Patrick Harvie, Lorna Slater and Ross Greer for comment but none of the senior MSPs responded to our requests.

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