Energy bills soar but NO new nuclear power plants, says Swinney

JOHN Swinney will today pledge that no new nuclear power stations will be built in Scotland under the SNP – despite the current energy crisis.

The Deputy First Minister is to rule out developing Scotland’s nuclear power in a speech.

His decision comes as families across Scotland are being hit by soaring energy bills.

But instead of developing nuclear power stations already present in Scotland, Mr Swinney will tell the SNP conference in Aberdeen he will focus on ‘green’ energy only.

Last night critics warned that the SNP was placing its own ideological opposition to nuclear power ahead of the needs of the country.

Scottish Tory spokesman for net zero, energy and transport Liam Kerr said: ‘It’s an increasingly narrow and parochial view of energy security, and

‘A narrow and parochial view of energy security’

the Deputy First Minister is adopting it at the worst possible time.

‘Scotland needs a sensible energy mix of renewables, oil and gas and nuclear.

‘But by dismissing the latter two, the SNP are abandoning tens of thousands of skilled workers and ignoring the need for energy security at a time of soaring bills.’

Mr Swinney is expected to claim: ‘The equivalent of almost 100 per cent of our electricity demand is from renewable sources.

‘Scotland is secure in energy. And Scotland is not going to put up with a new round of nuclear power stations to make up for the failure of energy policy in the United Kingdom.’

But Mr Kerr argued: ‘He repeats Nicola Sturgeon’s misleading claims that our electricity consumption is almost covered 100 per cent by renewables – when it’s just over half.’