Gavin Newlands, SNP MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire North, is scheduled to go head to head with Robert Skillen, the disgraced director of the now liquidated company HELMS. Skillen and HELMS are accused of miss-selling thousands of solar panels and Energy efficiency adaptations to households across the UK.

Shockingly, HELMS operated under the backing of the UK government, through its flagship Green Deal Scheme, households have been left struggling, burdened with unaffordable debts, faulty workmanship, and at times trapped from selling their homes.

gavin newlands mp

Newlands has previously called for Skillen to see the ‘inside of a courtroom’ after discovering his constituency of Paisley and Renfrewshire North has been affected by Green Deal miss-selling more than any other constituency in the UK. He and other MPs are calling for accountability and redress for their constituents. Gavin, after seeing first-hand the affect this has had on households in his constituency is determined to see resolution. So much so that, Skillen has recently appeared in the media, struggling to defend his actions.

Newlands and Skillen have both been invited to participate in a discussion on STV’s flagship current affairs program, Scotland Tonight, which will be taking place this Thursday (29th) at 10:30pm. The head to head will be centred on the accusations that MPs have laid on Skillen in parliamentary debates.

In anticipation of Thursday night’s broadcast, Newlands said:

“I am looking forward to challenging Skillen face to face. He has been incognito for some time now, in hiding, cowering away from any accountability.

“His company was responsible for severe financial stress and who knows what other problems, all so he could make a quick buck. He has used classic underhanded dodgy salesman tactics to deliberately miss-sell so aggressively that he may well have to face criminal charges.

“Skillen has been a blight on the communities that I represent. But make no mistake, his actions were enabled by a careless UK Government who were more concerned with positive PR than seeing a policy implemented properly.

“It is ultimately the UK Government in Westminster that is responsible for cleaning up this mess, I urge them to act now to provide immediate financial redress to my constituents and anyone else out of pocket thanks to Green Deal miss-selling.”

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Founder of Paisley.org.uk in 1998 and constantly strives to change peoples attitudes to the town, Brian is a self described Paisley Digital Champion who promotes Paisley via any means necessary. You can also follow me on X