A Tory Government would build nuclear power plants in Scotland regardless of SNP objections, the Shadow Energy Secretary told his party conference.
Andrew Bowie vowed a “no more Mr Nice Guy” approach to Britain’s nuclear capacity, telling ministers in Edinburgh to “bring it on” if they didn’t like it.
He said objections to nuclear power were “Luddite” and told the Birmingham conference: “I do not want any part of Great Britain to miss out on this nuclear renewal.”
The Scottish Government under the SNP has consistently been against the creation of new nuclear power sites north of the border and has used devolved planning law to block any such projects.
But this position has long been at odds with successive UK governments. Nuclear power is also seen as vital for Net Zero targets as it has zero greenhouse emissions.
Mr Bowie said “no part of Britain will be off limits” for new nuclear sites if the party returns to Downing Street.
“The SNP are using devolved planning law to block any nuclear investment in Scotland,” he said.
“Their Luddite approach is flying in the face of science, public opinion and common sense – this is the SNP, after all.
Andrew Bowie says his party will ignore SNP objections
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“But I do not want any part of Great Britain to miss out on this nuclear renewal.
“We will need a third large-scale reactor, we will build that reactor and no part of Britain will be off limits, including Scotland.
“We will legislate to get it done – no more Mr Nice Guy, no more devolve and forget.
“Energy is a reserved power of the sovereign parliament of our United Kingdom and I am fed up with the SNP playing games with devolved planning policy to block our nuclear renewal, so we will legislate to ensure new nuclear can and will be built in Scotland.
Andrew Bowie criticised the position of Scottish nationalists during his conference speech
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“If the nationalists want to stop us from delivering thousands of jobs, economic growth and energy security for Britain, I have one thing to say – bring it on.”
He went on to post on X: “Coal drove the industrial revolution.
“We will ensure that abundant nuclear power will drive Britain’s renewal.”
Mr Bowie also attacked Labour, claiming Andy Burnham had delayed decisions on two controversial North Sea fields to pander to Green voters.
Work on Rosebank, Britain’s largest untapped oil field, and Jackdaw, a giant gas field, has paused after legal challenges on climate grounds.
A decision on their futures had been expected last month, but this was delayed. The Government insists the time is needed to go through a mass of material.
But Mr Bowie suggested the upcoming by-election in Holborn and St Pancras, in which Green Party leader Zack Polanski is standing, was the cause.
“They’re still delaying, and why?” he said.
“Because Andy Burnham is running scared of Zack Polanski and the Green Party.”
He added: “This isn’t ideological for us. It is pragmatic, it’s about acting in our national interest, it’s about backing jobs and our energy security.
“That’s why I, Kemi (Badenoch) and the Conservative Party have been clear – we will scrap the windfall tax, we will end Labour’s ban on new licences, we will approve Jackdaw and Rosebank and go further.”
Responding to Mr Bowie’s nuclear comments, Scottish energy minister, Stephen Gethins, accused him of planning to “rip up the powers of the Scottish Parliament”.
“The Tory mask has slipped,” he said.
“Not only do they want to impose new nuclear power stations on communities in Scotland, they want to try and do it by ripping up the powers of the Scottish Parliament.
“Scotland does not need new nuclear power stations which are expensive, take decades to become operational and have huge public and environmental safety concerns.
“Our focus must be on developing Scotland’s remarkable renewable energy resources which is quicker, cheaper and safer than nuclear.”