Exclusive:New nuclear 'would make Scotland a target for Putin', says Scots Labour MP
Brian Leishman said hosting small reactors north of the border “would make communities a target”.
Brian Leishman said hosting small reactors north of the Border “would make communities a target”.
He also criticised the cost to build new nuclear, saying it wouldn’t bring down bills in the short term.
The UK government wants to build small nuclear reactors in Scotland. But the Scottish government - which has powers over planning - has blocked it.
Russia has attacked nuclear sites in Ukraine during the last four years of the war.
Mr Leishman will say in a Westminster Hall debate once the House of Commons returns from recess: “Politicians from nearly every party say that the UK will likely be at war with Russia by 2030.
“If the war hawks are correct, then why would it make sense for various areas to become targets for Putin?
“Nuclear power plants or the other policy pushed by the nuclear energy lobby – hundreds of small reactor sites in locations up and down the UK – would make communities a target.”
The UK government has said that Torness in East Lothian, Hunterston in Ayrshire, and Dounreay in Caithness could host small nuclear reactors.
But the SNP has effectively banned it, saying it would rather focus on renewables which is much cheaper to build.
Mr Leishman criticised the “mammoth construction costs” of building nuclear energy infrastructure.
The Alloa and Grangemouth MP will say in the debate: “[English power station] Hinkley Point C initial cost was estimated at £18 billion.
“That has increased several times. In May 2022, the French company EDF raised it to £26 billion.
“And now EDF say the cost is £32 billion because of inflation.
“Nuclear power’s construction costs are considerably higher than those for renewable energy.
“And despite introducing new funding models (meaning billpayers will pay in advance for any reactors) and with the ludicrous claim that nuclear power is “green” to attract investors.
“The government is struggling to persuade sceptical pension funds and asset managers to back the project.
“The bottom line is that the financial cost of nuclear is not value for money.
“So why would Scotland having nuclear sites be any different?”
He will also say that nuclear energy “is no quick solution for families struggling with energy bills right now.”
He will say: “It takes ages to build nuclear sites.
“Overall, it takes between 10 and 19 years to plan and build a nuclear reactor.
“So nuclear power is not coming anytime soon. Nuclear energy is no quick solution for families struggling with energy bills right now or for the next decade and more.”
Nuclear industry leaders have said it is a more reliable and cheaper form of energy. The UK Government has paid almost twice as much to turn off windfarms in Scotland as it plans to spend on developing small modular nuclear reactors by the end of this decade.
It comes after the Conservatives said that they would change the law to override the SNP’s ban on new nuclear.
Tory shadow energy secretary Andrew Bowie said that a Tory Government would bring in a law to ensure “no part of Great Britain misses out on plans for new nuclear renewal.”
But Labour energy minister Michael Shanks ruled out the prospect of the UK government overriding Holyrood.
The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero was approached for comment.
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