SNP accused of frittering away ScotWind millions to plug budget gaps as watchdog demands transparency over £755m windfall

From the Newshound archive · first published 19 September 2026.

Scotland's spending watchdog Audit Scotland has found that SNP ministers used more than £100 million of ScotWind revenues to balance the books rather than invest them, and expects a further £507 million to be spent by 2031. Auditor General Stephen Boyle warned the "high risk and reward" scheme has left Scotland with no clear plan for its £755 million seabed leasing windfall. Opposition parties say John Swinney promised a dedicated wealth fund but delivered a budget prop instead. A separate analysis shows Scotland is set to receive £7.4 billion less in supply chain spending than originally projected.

Audit Scotland found that the ScotWind leasing round was never backed by a single business case, meaning its value for money remains undemonstrated.

The share of ScotWind supply chain investment committed to Scotland has fallen from 38% to 30%, with STUC general secretary Roz Foyer calling developers' conduct 'shocking'.

Critics say the SNP sold Scotland's seabed 'on the cheap' by capping prices rather than running an open auction to maximise public returns.