Miliband: Labour will invite nuclear bosses to Scotland on ‘day one’ if Sarwar wins election

The UK Government would invite nuclear firms to Scotland “on day one” of a Labour-led Scottish Government, Ed Miliband has said.

The UK energy secretary has said he would lead a drive for new reactors if Scottish Labour wins the election next year.

During its time in office, the SNP has opposed new nuclear stations.

But the UK ministers believe an expansion of the sector would boost energy security and help in the transition away from fossil fuels.

Miliband said nuclear power would be “a very, very big issue” in the battle for votes in the run-up to May's Holyrood election.

And he said a Labour victory will mean he and Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar would “invite the world’s nuclear industry to Scotland to begin talks about investing in Scottish locations”.

The invite would be made “on day one”, Miliband said, adding: “Given the growing interest in nuclear in Scotland, I’m asking Great British Energy - Nuclear to assess Scotland’s capability for new nuclear power stations, including at Torness and Hunterston.”

He told reporters there was “enthusiasm” around Labour’s nuclear vision, stating: “We are saying, led by Anas, yes to new nuclear in Scotland, and I want to partner with the leadership he is showing to deliver and we are determined to do so if Scotland elects a Labour government.

“I think we can do even more in Scotland, and I think we can do even more through new nuclear.

“The truth is Scotland has got a proud nuclear history, but it is being held back by the SNP’s anti-growth, anti-jobs ban on new nuclear.”

While matters concerning nuclear installations are reserved, planning powers which lie in Scotland mean no new sites have been developed in years.

The SNP’s Paul McLennan said: “If a failing, unpopular UK Labour Government think that the answer to their problems is to try and force new nuclear power on Scotland, they are in for a surprise.

“The idea that this out-of-touch Labour government thinks it can bypass the Scottish Government and impose policies on us gets to the heart of their complete contempt for Scotland.

“Scotland’s focus is on our immense renewable energy potential – not expensive new nuclear that will take years to deliver, put bills up and leave us dealing with dangerous waste for decades to come.”

Maggie Chapman of the Scottish Greens said: “GB Energy is meant to be investing in green jobs, not overriding devolution and trying to impose expensive and polluting solutions from London.

“Labour knows that new nuclear power would cost billions of pounds and do nothing to reduce skyrocketing energy bills or to protect our climate. It is a dangerous, costly and wasteful distraction from doing the real work that is needed to build a renewables-powered future.”