Truss call for Scottish nuclear power is to make up for UK mistakes – Swinney

The Prime Minister previously said she wanted to see nuclear power stations built in Scotland.

The Deputy First Minister will address SNP members on Sunday (Jeff J Mitchell/PA) (PA Archive)

Calls for more nuclear energy in Scotland are to “to make up for the failure of energy policy in the United Kingdom”, John Swinney will tell SNP members on Sunday.

John Swinney will use his address to the SNP conference in Aberdeen to talk up Scotland’s energy capabilities.

The Prime Minister previously told the BBC she wanted to work with the Scottish Government on nuclear power.

We need no lectures from Liz Truss about security of energy supply

John Swinney

The Deputy First Minister is expected to tell SNP members: “Scotland is a nation rich in energy resources.

“We have a plentiful supply of clean, green, affordable renewable energy.

“The equivalent of almost 100% of our electricity demand is from renewable sources.

“Not only is Scotland self-sufficient in natural gas, we are a huge exporter.

“Scotland is secure in energy. So, we need no lectures from Liz Truss about security of energy supply. It is the UK that has failed to achieve energy security, with the National Grid warning of possible power cuts this winter.

“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.

“Despite our huge strength in energy, 150,000 more people in Scotland will be forced into extreme fuel poverty as a result of the UK Government’s increase to the energy price cap in September.

“We are an energy rich nation, but 35% of our citizens live in fuel poverty. Why is that?

“Because, while Scotland has the energy, Westminster has the power. And how Westminster chooses to use its reserved power has consistently, and deliberately, disadvantaged Scotland.”

Speaking to the BBC last month, Liz Truss said she wanted to work with Nicola Sturgeon on the energy crisis.

“I’m keen to use more of the resources in the North Sea and also see more nuclear power stations built across the country, including in Scotland,” she said.

“I’m very keen to talk to Nicola Sturgeon about that because I think that will help us make sure we have long-term energy security that, alongside wind power in Scotland, we also have nuclear power in Scotland.”

Within minutes of Ms Truss’ comments, the Deputy First Minister had rejected the idea, saying “we won’t sign up to that and we’ve made that very clear”.