ANAS Sarwar has called for nuclear energy projects to be built in Scotland, accusing the SNP of an “ideological block” on the technology.
Speaking at First Minister’s Questions on Thursday, John Swinney firmly rejected calls to allow building of nuclear in Scotland – saying Sarwar would "scare off investment" into renewable energy.
Scottish Labour’s group leader had raised nuclear power with the First Minister after the UK Government announced plans to “rip up [the] rules to fire-up nuclear power”.
“More nuclear power plants will be approved across England and Wales as the Prime Minister slashes red tape to get Britain building,” the Labour Government announced on Thursday.
Bringing it up at FMQs, Sarwar said: “The National Grid's live data at 10 o'clock this morning showed 23.9% of the electricity being consumed in Scotland was from nuclear.
“The transition to net zero is a chance to create decent high skilled jobs for the future, to drive investment into Scotland and to secure our national energy security. Just ask communities in East Lothian or North Ayrshire, who have seen the benefits.
“But for almost 20 years, the SNP have vetoed nuclear energy projects in Scotland, leaving jobs, growth and skills to go elsewhere.
“But the next generation of small nuclear reactors could revolutionise our energy market. China is constructing 29 reactors, and the EU has 12 at planning stage. That's a huge advantage in the global race to harness new technologies to deliver cleaner, affordable, independent energy.
“So why is John Swinney determined to let Scotland fall behind?”
Responding, Swinney said that investors want “absolute policy certainty” from the Scottish Government – which he argued the SNP were delivering by opposing new nuclear projects and favouring renewables.
The First Minister said that Sarwar aimed to “scare off investment from the renewable energy industry”.
The SNP leader said: “In 2023, 70% of electricity generated in Scotland was from renewable sources, that's a marked increase compared to 32% in 2013.
“So Mr Sarwar should be careful not to create the impression that renewable energy is not delivering formidably for Scotland because it is.
“And I think investors will be really worried by the language from Mr Sarwar today, because investors tell me that they know exactly where the Scottish Government stands today.
“We are right behind the renewable energy revolution, and we're delivering that.
“I'll be giving a clear green light to the green energy revolution in Scotland, and I'll be proud of what Scotland can deliver.”
Scottish Green MSP Mark Ruskell said it was "staggering that the Labour Party is so determined to double down" on nuclear power.
“New nuclear energy would be a massive backwards step," he said. "It is a toxic and costly distraction from the clean, green renewable investment that we badly need to make.
“It is unsafe, unreliable and will not do anything to lower the obscene bills that households across our country are being hit with. The last thing we should be doing is throwing billions of pounds at it."
Dale Vince, the founder of Ecotricity and a major Labour donor, has questioned the UK Government’s claim that new nuclear reactors will lower energy bills.
He said: “We keep hearing that small modular reactors will be cheaper than the big ones and they’ll bring our energy bills down – but no-one, no-one at all, ever tells us what the price of the energy will be, the Government and the industry just don’t say.
“You have to wonder why – if they’re definitely cheaper and will bring bills down, then give us the numbers.”
