Campaigners slam Scottish government for failures to build on public ownership successes

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The Centre for Local Economies says that opportunities in energy, transport and retrofitting have been squandered.

The think tank’s report, which is being launched tomorrow, was commissioned by the Just Transition Partnership, an initiative between the trade union movement, led by the STUC, and environmental organisations.

It calls out the “squandered opportunity” and demands urgent action to convert public investment into permanent public power, including a new public ownership delivery unit within the Scottish government.

STUC general secretary Roz Foyer said: “The evidence from this report is clear: public ownership works.

“It’s the scandal of our age that, instead of helping local governments to build these models across Scotland, we see the billion-pound rip-off of workers as public money props up private ownership of buses and energy.

“It’s high time both Scottish and UK governments got a grip and stopped squandering the opportunities before us.

“They must show real impetus to support workers suffering from the deep structural injustices that have occurred from the failed market-led approach to energy, transport and retrofitting.”

Friends of the Earth Scotland’s Caroline Rance said: “Put simply, this report shows that we can do it better if we own it.

“Public ownership is already delivering for workers, communities and the climate, but it needs to be scaled up if we are to meet the challenges facing Scotland.”

The research highlights successful examples of local government ownership in key sectors which can support climate targets, greater wealth retention and better services.

A Scottish government spokesperson said: “Scotland’s renewable energy resources should deliver benefits for the communities that host them.

The Scottish government is expanding opportunities for communities to share in the value of the energy transition, including through a new pilot with Forestry and Land Scotland to help unlock renewable energy development on public land.

“We are also committed to working with partners to continue to grow the community energy sector. This is why we have increased funding for our Community and Renewable Energy Scheme (CARES) to £15 million this year, in line with our Programme for Government.”

“Separately, the Scottish government is committed to bringing the bus network back into public control through franchising and regulation by the end of this parliament.”