UK Government accused of backtracking on number of civil service jobs being moved to Aberdeen

A North East MP says the UK Government backtracking on the number of civil service jobs being moved to Aberdeen is a "betrayal" to the region.

In December, the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) earmarked a new energy hub for the Granite City, announcing civil service jobs would be relocated to the city as part of the Places For Growth Programme.

John Glen MP made the announcement at the Net Zero Technology Centre and responding to how many jobs would be shifted to the region, he said: "I don't have an exact number, but in the next few years, we will see hundreds more DESNZ civil servants working in Aberdeen."

However, it has now emerged there will be just 35.

The DESNZ said it "never committed" to a specific number of roles in the city, despite numerous media outlets reporting at the time there would be hundreds.

A spokesperson for the department said: “Hosting our second headquarters in Aberdeen underlines the importance of North East Scotland in our Net Zero transition.

“While we never committed to a specific number of roles in the city, the headquarters already has over 100 staff, and our ambition is to increase this by a third by March 2027.

“An Aberdeen base puts those working in the department closer to those working in the crucial oil gas and renewables industries – both the companies and the tens of thousands of their workers who play a vital role in our energy supply.”

"Betrayal" for the North East

Gordon MP Richard Thompson described it as a "slap in the face" for the region.

He said: "The government were quite happy at Westminster to let it be known that hundreds of jobs would be coming to the North East in the civil service as part of their levelling up agenda - getting civil servants out of London to work in an industry which is key to the future of the North East.

"They have completely rolled back on it. To find out there is only 35 jobs actually transferring really is a slap in the face and a betrayal for the North East and the future of our energy industry."