Home   News   Article

Grant slams 'despicable' Scottish Water bonuses


By Tom Ramage

Easier access to your trusted, local news. Subscribe to a digital package and support local news publishing.



Click here to sign up to our free newsletters!

Scottish Labour have criticised “eye-watering” bonuses at Scottish Water, as executives rake in hundreds of thousands of pounds.

In 2021 the cost of executive bonuses more than doubled on the previous year as all members took their bonuses, with the total bill soaring to £227,000 for just three people.

The chief executive was handed a £92,000 bonus for a single year’s work, on top of his £267,000 salary.

Highlands MSP Rhoda Grant: "These bonuses are despicable."
Highlands MSP Rhoda Grant: "These bonuses are despicable."

The row comes amid criticism over Scottish Water planning to hit households by at least a 12% rise in future bills, ignoring the cost of living crisis, and this is despite sitting on almost £500 million worth of reserves.

Scottish Labour called the bonuses “obscene” and reiterated their calls for a £100 rebate on water charges for every household in Scotland.

The party's deputy Leader Jackie Baillie said: “It is obscene that high-paid execs are being handed bonuses three times the size of the average salary at taxpayers’ expense while people across Scotland struggle to make ends meet.

“The SNP are piling pressure on to those who can least afford it by nodding through hikes to water charges, and all the while Scottish Water are sitting on almost £500 million of cash reserves and throwing around almost a quarter of a million pounds in bonuses for just three people.

“These eye-watering sums make a mockery of the SNP’s pretence that they can’t spare a penny to freeze water charges or give people a rebate.

“The SNP are responsible for Scottish Water – they must show some leadership and put struggling families first by delivering a £100 rebate for every household.”

Highlands and Islands Labour MSP Rhoda Grant said: “These bonuses are despicable.

“Families the length and breadth of the country are struggling with the cost of living crisis.

“Scottish Minister’s should not have approved these bonuses while households are facing rises in their water bills of at least 12% in coming months. Scottish Water and the Scottish Government could have instead offset this money against tax payers’ bills.

“It’s another kick to hard-working householders throughout the country.”


Do you want to respond to this article? If so, click here to submit your thoughts and they may be published in print.



This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies - Learn More