A powersharing deal between Scottish Labour and the Greens after the next Holyrood election is now “really unlikely”, the co-leader of the environmentalists has said.
Lorna Slater spoke out after Anas Sarwar declared his party was in favour of a new generation of new nuclear energy projects in Scotland.
The Labour MSP said last week the SNP Government’s long-standing opposition to nuclear power was depriving the country of potentially billions of pounds of new investment.
But that position has been firmly rejected by the Greens who insist Scotland must work towards a point where 100 per cent of its energy needs can be provided from renewable sources.
Slater told the Record there was a lack of “common ground” between her party and Labour, making it unlikely the two could work together on a formal basis in the future.
Current polling suggests Sarwar will fall far short of his aim to return the most MSPs at next year’s Holyrood election to oust the SNP from power.
That means Labour could be reliant on securing support from other parties in the Scottish Parliament if they are to stand any chance of forming a government.
Slater said: “Labour have never shown the slightest interest in working with anybody, let alone us. They have never indicated they would want that.
“Even if they did, at this point, it’s very hard to see whether there is any sort of common ground with Labour. In terms of nuclear power, but also nuclear weapons. Even basic stuff like payment to the Waspi women, who they have let down, and the winter fuel payment.
“The position that Labour is setting makes it really, really unlikely there would be enough in common to work together on.
“We don’t agree with the SNP on everything, but we can agree on climate, and we can agree on child poverty, and how we can tackle those things.”
Asked about Labour’s support for nuclear energy, Slater said: “It was notable when Anas raised this at FMQs, there were a number of his backbenchers who did not seem at all happy.
“The Scottish Government, and certainly with the Greens in Government, was setting out a case for working towards 100 per cent from renewables. That’s the vision we had put together, and that’s certainly what the Greens want.
“John Swinney is right to say if we muddy the waters, if we change the direction, if we confuse the vision, we risk undermining investment.
“We know about Scotland’s renewables potential. The industry is substantially underinvested. We only have a handful of working tidal turbines, we could have hundreds.
“Wind is ramping up. We are going to have some of the largest offshore windfarms in the world in Scotland.
“There is a direction of travel there. I think it makes absolute sense to continue to focus on that and have a clear industrial strategy. Changing paths, and creating uncertainty, that’s what investors don’t like.
“But I think this is a political ploy from Anas. I don’t think it’s a sensible strategy for energy security in Scotland.”
Writing in his regular column for the Record earlier this week, Sarwar insisted nuclear could “transform our energy system”.
The Labour leader said: “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.”
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