An SNP attempt to silence critics of its £10bn investment agreement with Chinese firms has met with a fresh backlash from opposition parties at Holyrood.
The Scottish Government released a tranche of emails yesterday between its officials and potential investors from SinoFortone and China Railway Group (CR3), who are investigating Scotland’s potential for major energy, housing and transport projects.
However, the publication triggered a new round of criticism after the documents revealed Government attempts to conceal the identity of a firm linked with human rights abuses and the depth of the involvement of billionaire SNP donor Brian Souter.
It also prompted an accusation that the Scottish Government made misleading statements about whether specific projects were discussed after an email revealed the First Minister was “delighted” the firms had “engaged in such a positive way with the initial project proposals”.
Willie Rennie, the Scottish Liberal Democrat leader, said the release of information confirmed his “worst fears” over the agreement.
He added, during a Holyrood debate on the economy: “These are devastating revelations and, far from clearing the Government in this regard, I think it makes it worse.
He claimed officials had “Tippexed out” mention of CR3 in the memorandum of understanding and press statements, but did not see fit to carry out due diligence.
Amnesty International has condemned the firm for human rights abuses.
Scottish Labour’s Jackie Baillie claimed the Government had misled the public by saying Mr Souter was not involved in discussions when the emails suggested he played a key role.
The Scottish Government’s new Economy Secretary, Keith Brown, responded the release of information demonstrated that discussions with the Chinese firms were at an early stage with “not a penny” of actual investment agreed and no specific projects on the table.
Mr Brown said: “The full set of papers we are releasing shows the approach taken by the Scottish Government to potential investment was entirely appropriate throughout the process.”
