FMQs: Sarwar and Swinney clash over nuclear power

Scottish Labour's Anas Sarwar went nuclear at First Minister's Questions as he challenged John Swinney to back the UK Government's new power plant drive.

Keir Starmer has said his administration will make it easier to build small nuclear power stations in England and Wales.

Planning rules are to be reformed and the prime minister said the lack of any such new facility in "decades" has meant the UK has been "let down and left behind".

Speaking in Holyrood, Sarwar called on Swinney to "end the Scottish Government's ideological block on nuclear energy to ensure Scots can also benefit".

The Scottish Government opposes the creation of new nuclear power stations using existing technologies, arguing that these represent poor value for consumers, focusing instead on the development of renewable generation.

Sarwar said the near-20-year "veto" has left "jobs, growth and skills to go elsewhere". He said: "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.

"John Swinney has the power to unleash billions of pounds of investment and new jobs with the stroke of a pen.

"But instead he is trapped in the politics of the 1970s, wanting thousands of jobs and billions in investment to go to England and Wales rather than come to Scotland, all while weakening Scotland’s energy security. What kind of nationalist is he?"

Vowing to "power on" with renewables, Swinney said investors need "absolute policy certainty" to give them confidence to do business in Scotland. He told the chamber: "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. And Mr Sarwar, in his pursuit of the new direction, wants to muddy the waters. He wants to add uncertainty. He wants to scare off investments from the renewable energy industry. I won't be doing 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."

He went on: "Let me use this opportunity to make it absolutely crystal clear: the Scottish Government will continue with our support for the development of green renewables in Scotland and we will not give the green light to nuclear power stations in Scotland."

The UK Government's nuclear move comes after the Court of Session ruled that permissions for the Rosebank and Jackdaw fossil fuel fields off Scotland's coast was given unlawfully.

Tory MSP Douglas Lumsden called that "a hammer blow" for the north-east and SNP backbencher Fergus Ewing questioned if it was more climate-friendly to import oil from overseas than produce it in Scotland.

Swinney said he "cannot ignore" the climate crisis and will pursue the transition to net zero.