With the stroke of a pen, John Swinney could end the SNP’s ideological opposition to nuclear power and transform our energy system. He could unlock billions of pounds of investment in Scotland, create spates of new quality jobs, help to strengthen our energy security and take us one step closer to net zero.
But instead John Swinney is doubling down on his irrational opposition to nuclear power – stuck in the politics of the 1970s and blinkered by his own stubbornness. As a result, investment and jobs will go to England and Wales instead of coming here.
Last week the UK Labour government unveiled plans to put the UK back in the global race for nuclear energy, but thanks to the SNP Scotland will miss out.
The SNP – the party that claims to be “stronger for Scotland” – is depriving our country of the chance to be part of the global race on nuclear power.
We all know the transition to net zero is a chance to create decent, high skilled jobs for generations. It’s not an either/or choice between renewables and nuclear – we can and should invest in both.
The two can work hand in hand, with nuclear energy providing a helpful baseline level of energy generation.
Right now, just over 20 per cent of the electricity used in Scotland comes from nuclear sources. By investing in nuclear energy alongside renewables, we can drive investment into Scotland and secure our national and energy security, so we are no longer subject to the whims of tyrants like Vladimir Putin.
We can see in East Lothian and North Ayrshire the benefits nuclear power can deliver. But for almost 20 years the SNP have vetoed nuclear energy projects in Scotland – leaving jobs, growth and skills to go elsewhere. A huge opportunity is being squandered by John Swinney and the SNP.
I want to be clear – a Scottish Labour government would take a different approach to nuclear power. We will end the ideological block to zero carbon nuclear energy and deliver investment, growth and jobs. We will boost Scotland’s energy security and deliver on our ambitious climate targets.
This is what it means when I say Scottish Labour will deliver a new direction for Scotland. The SNP’s poor decisions are holding Scotland back, but Scottish Labour would make different ones. Scotland has so much potential, but it is being stifled by SNP incompetence and intransigence.
Our energy system, our economy and our public services are all struggling under the pressure of SNP failure. In 2026 Scotland will have a clear choice between more of the same mismanagement and decline with the SNP, or a new direction with Scottish Labour.
Between then and now, I will be setting out in more detail what that means in practice. I will be demonstrating that we can do things differently and turn the page on SNP decline at last.
Whether it’s ditching their damaging and ideological opposition to nuclear power, reforming our public services, or prioritising growth, we can make different choices. These will be the dividing lines of the 2026 Scottish Parliament election.
Scotland is ready for a new direction and Scottish Labour can deliver it.
HOMELESSNESS SCANDAL
As of September last year, 10,360 children were stuck in temporary accommodation – the highest figure on record. That’s more than 10,000 children without a stable, secure home of their own.
On average, a family will be stuck in temporary accommodation for 375 days – more than a year. Imagine a full year of a young person’s life spent in limbo – a school year completed, a Christmas spent in temporary accommodation, a birthday celebrated without a permanent home.
This is a national scandal and responsibility lies squarely with the SNP government. Figures published last week revealed homelessness and rough sleeping in Scotland continued to rise after the SNP government declared a housing emergency.
Calling a housing emergency and failing to do a thing to fix it is shamefully negligent. As long as there are Scots sleeping rough and children stuck in temporary accommodation, we need more than empty rhetoric from the SNP government.
While this crisis was unfolding, the SNP slashed funding for affordable housing, hollowed out Council budgets and let housebuilding collapse.
Even now, John Swinney continues to defend his failing Housing Minister. It could not be clearer that Scotland needs a new direction.
POWER OF TECHNOLOGY
Technology is a force for good – it can drive economic growth, innovation, and public sector reform. Last week I launched Scottish Labour’s tech consultation with a group of industry experts – and one robotic dog. Let’s seize the opportunities of the digital revolution and unlock Scotland’s potential as a tech world-leader.
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