Scottish Power was accused of “unfettered profiteering” after the energy giant raked in £924.6 million in profits during the first six months of 2022. The profits were announced as the cost of electricity and gas has soared plunging thousands of Scots into fuel poverty.

Alternatively, you can visit our newsletter sign up-centre. Once you are there, enter your email address and select Politics and any other Daily Record newsletters that are of interest.

At the time Sharon Graham, Unite general secretary, said: “How’s that for trickle-down economics? Billion of pounds are being handed over from Scottish Power to Iberdrola in Spain.

“Trickle down from Scotland to Spanish shareholders. Proof that government trickle down policies are doomed to fail.”

Galan, the CEO of ScottishPower’s parent company Iberdrola, once appeared before Spain’s High Court in relation to allegations that he spied on the chairman of Real Madrid. He gave testimony behind closed doors over whether Iberdrola hired police chief turned private detective Jose Manuel Villarejo.

It was alleged he breached the privacy of Real’s Florentino Perez when his construction company ACS was fighting for a seat on Iberdrola’s board in 2009. The court closed the case in June without further action.

However, it can be reopened on appeal. Galan denied any wrongdoing and the matter was dismissed with regards to him in June of last year.