A UK trade union accused Iberdrola unit ScottishPower of “rank hypocrisy” for backing major green initiatives in Scotland while shipping giant offshore wind components from Spain and the Middle East “on oil-burning barges”.

The GMB Scotland union – which wants more offshore wind contracts awarded locally – claimed ScottishPower’s high-profile backing for efforts to make Glasgow the UK’s first net-zero city sit awkwardly with its procurement track record.

The Iberdrola subsidiary is building one of the UK’s largest offshore wind farms, the 714MW East Anglia 1 off Eastern England, and has further major projects in the pipeline.