SNP MSP Clare Adamson has warned against any attempts by Keir Starmer and the Labour Party to open the door to putting nuclear reactors in communities across Scotland.
The UK Labour Government has announced plans to make it easier to build nuclear power stations in England and Wales despite the enormous capital cost, significant time to build, and the production of radioactive waste which remains dangerous for thousands of years.
First Minister John Swinney emphasised that the SNP Scottish Government will use its planning powers to block any new nuclear power stations being built in Scotland and continue to drive investment in green renewable energy.
In stark contrast, the Labour leader in Scotland, Anas Sarwar, has rolled over for the Prime Minister and confirmed his party would give the go ahead to nuclear power in Scotland.
The SNP has prioritised investing in renewable energy in Scotland, leveraging public money to ensure that communities across North Lanarkshire benefit from our vast renewable potential.
This urge to invest billions of pounds in nuclear energy comes at a time when the Labour Party have just broken their promise and failed to save the Grangemouth oil refinery.
Ms Adamson, MSP for Motherwell and Wishaw, has urged local Labour MP Pamela Nash to rule out supporting the introduction of nuclear power stations in Motherwell and Wishaw and communities across Scotland.
Ms Adamson said:
"Labour talked the talk on supporting the Grangemouth refinery before the election. But – in the very week they have failed to step in and give a future to Grangemouth – Labour are now proposing throwing tens of billions of pounds at nuclear energy.
“Our focus, and the focus of public investment should be on the development of green renewable energy. We have enormous potential in renewable energy in Scotland.
“Hinkley Point C is a nuclear station being built in Somerset. It is years late and expected to cost up to £46 billion. Initial forecasts were £18 billion. It’s a working case study of the problem – enormous up-front costs, years late, and tens of billions over budget.
“That is why the SNP is focused on investing in renewable energy, which does not generate harmful radioactive waste. I cannot imagine a community in Scotland which would welcome the development of a nuclear reactor in their area.
“Renewables are Scotland’s energy future and that is what the SNP will stand up for.”
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