SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn has been accused of “pleading on behalf of rich fossil fuel polluters” after he demanded clarity on UK government funding for a new carbon-capture plant mired in controversy.

The plant, part of the Acorn project to build a new gas power station at St Fergus in Peterhead, has faced considerable opposition from environmental campaigners and locals.

Earlier this week, SNP Scottish government ministers were accused of breaching the ministerial code on 28 separate occasions.

Friends of the Earth Scotland (FoE) revealed SNP ministers had met developers Equinor and energy firm SSE a staggering 61 times between February 2022, when the planning application was submitted, and December 2023 — more than once a fortnight — but had refused to meet objectors.

While the SNP Scottish government has denied allegations of impropriety, Mr Flynn has written to Energy Secretary Ed Miliband demanding certainty on the project’s UK government funding, describing it as “a matter of profound urgency in both industry and the Scottish government.”

FoE Scotland’s Rosie Hampton said: “Yet again politicians are pleading on behalf of rich fossil fuel polluters for more public money to be poured into the Acorn carbon-capture project.

“Carbon capture has already had billions of pounds and decades of work to prove itself and it has failed on its promises everywhere it has been tried.

“Carbon capture is designed to greenwash the expansion of fossil fuels and Acorn project — the polluter’s pipe dream — will never live up to its hype.”

A Department for Energy Security and Net Zero spokeswoman said the project was one of many “nearing the first financial investment decisions this year.”