Labour 'wasted' thousands on GB Energy logo blunder, FOI reveals
A Freedom of Information request has revealed £10,710 was spent on the new GB Energy logo – with the SNP accusing the UK Government of not doing its due diligence with regards to the initial design.
It was previously reported that the initial logo (below) was a stock image used by a US-based advertising firm.
(Image: Canva) The newer version (below), meanwhile, has been designed since – with SNP MSP Kevin Stewart saying it is 'absolutely ridiculous'.
(Image: Canva)
It comes after The National also revealed that GB Energy formally has no employees.
Asked how many people are currently employed by GB Energy, the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero responded that it 'does not hold the information you have requested'.
'This is because Great British Energy is currently being established,' it went on.
READ MORE: Scottish unemployment rate grows but still below UK average, statistics show
'The company does not formally have 'employees' at this stage.'
There is also uncertainty and doubts over how many jobs GB Energy will actually bring to Scotland – or the rest of the UK.
For example, GB Energy chair Jurgen Maier admitted last month that Keir Starmer's General Election pledge to create 1000 new energy jobs in Scotland though GB Energy could take as long as '20 years'.
'Labour talked a good game on GB Energy, but with no jobs, no office, and now over 10 grand wasted on a logo – this is yet another example of careless spending and a lack of seriousness when it comes to delivering real energy reform,' Stewart said.
'Tragically, what this really shows is that GB Energy is nothing more than a shopfront for the UK Government, with no substance behind it.
'Once again, Scotland and the North East is being treated as an afterthought by the UK Government – with the full powers of independence, we could create an energy policy which serves Scotland and the people who live here.'
A UK Government spokesperson said: 'These claims are false. Great British Energy's logo was designed by our in-house communications team and the only external costs were for legal advice and to trademark the brand – an essential legal process for every new organisation.
'Backed by £8.3 billion over this parliament, Great British Energy has already committed £350 million to help unlock major clean energy projects that will revitalise the UK's industrial heartlands with new jobs, alongside securing Britain's energy supply.'
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