Concerns raised over Bute Energy links to Welsh Labour politicians
![](https://nation.cymru/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Welsh-Labour-benches-in-the-Senedd-Senedd-Cymru.jpg)
Emily Price
Concerns have been raised that an energy firm is “courting” Welsh politicians with gifts and donations in order to gain favour and influence for future wind farm projects.
Details uncovered by Nation Cymru reveal how several Labour Senedd members and a Labour MP have received tickets to sporting events and cash from Scottish company Bute Energy over the last three years.
The firm is currently developing a portfolio of onshore wind and solar power energy parks across rural parts of Wales.
It’s been involved in several controversial planning applications for turbines and steel pylons in picturesque areas of the country.
Our probe found that some Labour politicians have hosted prestigious events on behalf of Bute Energy after they’ve received gifts from the company.
Match tickets
The Senedd’s register of interests reveals that Labour MS John Griffiths received a match ticket from Bute Energy to see the FAW Women’s Cup final in May 2024.
Last week, the Newport East MS sponsored an evening reception for the windfarm developers in the Senedd.
A photo posted to the energy company’s Instagram account showed Mr Griffiths smiling beside one of Bute’s Scottish directors.
Labour MS Jenny Rathbone’s husband John Uden accepted a position on Bute Energy’s advisory board in March 2021.
The board was set up to provide advice and guidance to Bute’s executive team and help to promote onshore wind and solar energy projects in Wales.
In May 2021, Clwyd South MS Ken Skates received a ticket to the Wales v South Africa rugby match from the energy firm.
In the same year, Welsh Labour MS for Alyn and Deeside Jack Sargeant received a ticked to a Wales v New Zealand rugby match.
Mr Sargeant’s partner also has links to Bute Energy as she works for Camlas – a public relations company which lists the firm as a client on its website.
Concerns have been raised about the links between politicians in the Welsh Parliament and the energy giant whilst the Senedd actively discusses matters that will have a material impact on Bute Energy’s proposed projects.
Bute Energy is currently planning to build an onshore windfarm made up of 26 turbines 220 metres high near the Glaslyn nature reserve in Powys.
The proposals have sparked fierce backlash from locals and wildlife campaigners.
A statutory consultation with local communities and organisations is expected at the end of this year.
On June 12 this year, Jenny Rathbone, John Griffiths, Jack Sargeant and Ken Skates all followed the Labour whip and and voted against a Plaid Cymru motion for new power lines to be placed underground.
A campaigner against Bute’s plans who didn’t wish to be named said: “Although this information is available in the public domain, these members of the Senedd are unable or unwilling to see conflicts of interest that are so obvious to the public.
“This seems to run counter to Sir Keir Starmer’s recent comments about the importance of probity and public service in government.”
Host
A cash donation was also gifted to Welsh Labour Member of Parliament and now Assistant Whip Anna McMorrin.
The UK Parliament’s register of interests reveals that the Cardiff North MP received a donation of £3000 from Bute Energy on February 29, 2024.
A few months later, the Labour MP hosted the energy firm at an event in Westminster with MPs representing Welsh constituencies invited.
Our source said: “No community group has come near to this level of access to high ranking politicians – none were invited to either event.
“At a time when we are hearing so much about standards of political conduct in Westminster and Cardiff, we need better to understand how our elected officials are being lobbied or influenced.”
Concerns
We contacted all the Welsh Labour politicians involved in this story and layed out the lobbying concerns of our source. None responded to our requests for comment.
A Welsh Labour spokesperson said: “Donations to MSs and MPs are declared in the proper way, in line with the relevant rules and regulations of the Senedd and UK Parliament.”
A spokesperson for Bute Energy said: “All interactions between Bute Energy and elected politicians have been made and declared in full compliance with the rules and guidelines of Parliament and the Senedd. As such they are transparently registered in the public domain. We have had interactions with all political parties.
“Our reception at the Senedd last week was held outside of public hours, on an invite-only basis. We worked closely with the Senedd to ensure this event was fully compliant with its rules and regulations. All MSs were invited to the event.
“Notice of decisions by Ofgem to Bute Energy are made, as would be expected, within the framework of a constructive and compliant relationship with the regulator.”
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Wow, echo’s of the 2019 Tory bunch. We are not moving on, held back by our own ruling party in Wales. Drunk on power. Disappointing 😞
Caught with fingers in pies. Or are they spying for the new energy company run buy the Welsh government for and on behalf of the welsh people, so now theres no point in passing Bute energy’s planing applications anymore.
Shocking. The people of Wales are being sold down the river by Welsh Labour politicians.
With Miles dodging answering the support Gething questions this evening and Energy is under his portfolio is there a subplot we are not aware of.
Senedd Ministers have consistently refused to meet with communities adversely affected lest this prejudice their decision-making role in the planning process. How, therefore can a developer with ‘live’, pending planning applications be enabled to host such an event at Y Senedd. What message does this send? Clearly not one of due regard for those whose well-being and livelihoods will be impacted. At a time when faith in politics and democracy has never been lower, surely justice not only has to be done, but also seen to be done? Perhaps a Member of Y Senedd could demonstrate the courage of their convictions and restore… Read more »
Sustrans and now Bute Energy.Yet again the Labour Party in the Senedd appear to welcome financial incentives to achieve it’s aims.Having been presented with the biggest petition in the life of Senedd and ignoring the fact it is full proof if needed that the views of the public will be ignored if it doesn’t suit the agenda! Democracy, transparency and accountability have no place in Welsh politics it seems!
It’s worth noting that Bute openly admit they have never built a single wind turbine anywhere … yet! They don’t own any, they don’t operate any. Currently they are just another speculative developer, but they certainly have ambition. It’s just unfortunate they are not ambitious enough to venture offshore, where most of the U.K.’s power will come from. All onshore in greenfield rural areas. Wales will never be the same again. Such a shame they are getting away with it
Oh my God….. even more corruption!!!! Are we ever going to have decent and honest people in the Senedd? It seems that the whole of the British government, from top to bottom are on the take. It makes one wonder whether councils are really as skint as they say they are or is there plenty of money available but not filtering through for the benefit of the taxpayer?
I’m sure Plaid, the Conservatives and Reform feel that Welsh Labour is the gift that keeps on giving at the moment..
Plaid are involved with them as well…..
Folks plenty of information about this organisation’s back room dealings on jac o the north…..
Like we trust him!
The young lady from Plaid Cymru who went to the lords recently is also an ex employee of this organisation…
And Labour groupie Howe is involved somewhere with these lot apparently…
Is this the same Jack Sargant who spoke in the Senedd recently, urging ‘the Welsh Government to work closely with public sector pension funds, encouraging them to put more investment into Welsh infrastructure projects….like renewable energy.’
I wonder why?
It’s also the same Jack Sargeant MS who as Chair of the Petitions Committee, last year swiftly closed down any discussion by the committee on a CPRW petition calling for a pause on onshore wind farm developments. This was despite the petition only missing the 10,000 signature threshold for a Senedd debate by a few hundred, while others have been debated on far fewer signatures. The Senedd website states that: “The Petitions Committee reviews all petitions that collect over 250 signatures. They will decide what they can do to help take the petition forward.” Under Jack Sergeant’s Chairmanship they took… Read more »
As Lee Waters said re Gething, it’s not whether the paperwork is correct, it’s whether the judgement is correct. “We can do what we like because we’re in charge” is heading for disaster, no matter how good the paperwork. It fatally undermines the whole political endeavour, especially when it comes on the heels of a virtuoso display of that attitude from the Westminster Conservatives and is combined, as it has been in both cases, with spectacularly poor administration
This article only reflects the tip of the iceberg and is lazy journalism in that far from uncovering anything, all this information is in the public domain. What nation.cymru should be doing is properly investigating and reporting the huge web of connections with Bute Energy that was spawned from the Cardiff bubble and is now spread around Wales. When you look at it closely, the revolving door that Bute relies on is breathtaking in its power and reach. Former SPADS, former WG placemen and placewomen and other former decision makers are all there. Bute has been courting them for years,… Read more »
We have a song video that captures the essence of this problem:
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/aQhsLHiw9UfcqRtx/