Tories question First Minister on £30,000 donation to Stephen Flynn’s SNP branch

The Conservatives have challenged the First Minister on a “dodgy” donation reportedly made to Stephen Flynn’s local SNP branch after he was said to have lobbied ministers at Holyrood about a green energy project.

The Scottish Daily Mail reported a £30,000 donation was made to Flynn’s Aberdeen South branch of the party after a project by Flotation Energy was given the go-ahead.

According to the newspaper, the money was gifted by a “senior official” at the company in the aftermath of planning consent being granted – with records said to show the donation was accepted in May 2024.

That reportedly came after the project was given the go-ahead in April last year.

Challenging John Swinney on the reports during First Minister’s Questions at Holyrood on Thursday, Tory finance spokesman Craig Hoy said: “The SNP’s Westminster leader Stephen Flynn lobbied the Scottish Government on behalf of Flotation Energy, a renewables company which was awarded consent for a project.

“Thirty days later, Stephen Flynn received a £30,000 donation from a director of that company.”

Prior to approval for the project being granted, net zero secretary Mairi McAllan was said to have been sent a 117-page document about the scheme in the early hours of the morning, with a request for a decision by noon that day.

Hoy said McAllan had “signed off on it at just after 9am in the morning”.

He told MSPs: “Today we find out that behind closed doors, SNP ministers had ‘real concerns’ about the process in the awarding of this contract, and questioned whether the assessment had been rigorous enough.

“The secrecy and the lack of transparency is shocking.

“Something at the heart of this process stinks. Does John Swinney not realise how dodgy this process looks?”

Swinney made no comment on the donation, but said “concerns” that had been expressed were “about the time taken to reach the decision-making process as a consequence of Government scrutiny”.

He added: “The minister was expressing her concern the Government had to speed up its decision-making processes in that respect.”

He said that has since happened, pointing out to Hoy that fellow Tory MSP Douglas Lumsden had previously called on the Scottish Government to “streamline” the planning process for offshore wind projects.

The First Minister told Hoy: “I suggest the Scottish Conservatives decide whether they want to have projects delivered timeously, or whether they want to get in the road, because either way the Conservatives look like they are in their usual muddle today.”

An SNP spokesperson said: “Stephen Flynn MP is a proud and vocal champion of Scotland’s journey to renewable energy, and he will always support important projects that bring jobs and investment to Aberdeen and communities across Scotland.

“Any local MP worth their salt would do everything they could to ensure vital renewable projects are delivered for their constituents – and Stephen has a strong record in championing investment.

“Donations from long-standing party members are always welcome and help to ensure the SNP wins across Scotland.”