John Swinney has been branded "shameless" after taking credit for the success of a spaceport in Scotland - despite the Scottish Government refusing to fund it. SaxaVord on Shetland hopes to launch its first rocket into space this summer as it partners with various international organisations.
Government-funded Orbex moved their operations from Sutherland to the island despite receiving £15m of public cash to work from that site in the Highlands. The First Minister was called out by SaxaVord CEO Frank Strang in private emails last summer, accessed through freedom of information legislation.
The SNP leader boasted about the success of the company while taking part in a special Question Time episode with the other Scottish party leaders ahead of the General Election. On June 20 2024, he responded to a query about what his party would do to support growth in the manufacturing sector.
He said: "There are things that are happening today in Scotland...we've got a facility up in Shetland which is now going to start launching satellites by rocket into space . Now, if you'd said to me that in a few years Scotland would be a satellite launching country I would have said, ok, that's quite a big ask but, you know, it'll be interesting if it happens. That's now happening..."
READ MORE: The Scottish sites that could see Richard Branson's space tourism lift off
Mr Strang wrote to Mr Swinney on July 4 and said he was "delighted" to hear him mention "our Spaceport on Shetland being held up as a flagship for innovation within the new Scottish Economy." But he added that he want to "gently remind" him that "we have not actually had any financial support from Scottish Government on our journey and indeed there was a time when we felt that Scottish Government was trying to put us out of business as we were seen as a distraction from the prospective and unlicensed spaceports in the Western Isles and the Mhoine."
This is a reference to Highlands and Islands Enterprise, a government quango, supplying cash to two rival spaceport projects in Sutherland and the Western Isles, with the former now mothballed. Mr Strang goes on to highlight that "those dark days are behind us, and my Team are now being recognised for their extraordinary achievement against the odds and despite the best efforts of those that wished us ill."
He also points out that the UK Government did invest in the business and that if Holyrood follows suit "then Scotland will have its own crown jewel which will help encourage others and unlock the enormous potential of the Space Sector and all its associated benefits. Reinforce success."
This stinging rebuke to Mr Swinney was welcomed by the Scottish Tories. Highlands and Islands MSP Jamie Halcro Johnston told the Scottish Daily Express: "This absolutely blistering response to John Swinney rightly calls the SNP leader out for shamelessly trying to take credit for this project’s success.
“That’s despite his SNP government failing to give their backing to the project and, as Frank Strang points out, even seeming to be actively trying to undermine it. It speaks volumes that they’ve surged to the forefront of the space and tech sector despite, rather than because of, the SNP government’s efforts.”
The First Minister did respond to Mr Strang's letter stating that he was "disappointed to learn" that he felt "SaxaVord has not had the same level of support as other spaceport projects." He added: "The Scottish Government position here is very clear; we support all spaceport projects that deliver economic development for their local areas.
"Business support must be delivered equally, fairly and proportionately and I hope, therefore, you feel that is the case now. If you do not believe it to be so, however, then please let me or my officials know at the earliest opportunity." He added that it was up to enterprise agencies to decide funding.
Never miss the latest top headlines from the Scottish Daily Express. Sign up to our daily newsletter here.
