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SNP nuclear policy 'will cost thousands of jobs'

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Published Date: 15 February 2009
By Tom Peterkin Scottish Political Editor
SCOTLAND will lose out on thousands of jobs and billions of pounds in investment as a result of the SNP's anti-nuclear power policy, the Scottish Secretary will warn today.
Jim Murphy will mount a robust defence of nuclear power, claiming that Scotland would become an importer of electricity without it when he speaks at a conference in Edinburgh.

"Not to have nuclear would be an opportunity lost. It means Scotland misses out on billions of pounds in new investment – both during the construction phase and through the period of the power station's online service," Murphy will say at the Public Information Materials Exchange conference organised by the European Nuclear Association.

"It means Scotland misses out on thousands of good, well-paid jobs."

Murphy will say that the SNP has yet to advance a convincing argument against Government plans to build a new wave of nuclear power stations.

The SNP has indicated that it will use devolved planning laws to prevent them being built in Scotland, even though energy is reserved to Westminster.

Murphy said new nuclear power stations were essential to meet Britain's energy shortfall.





Page 1 of 1

  • Last Updated: 14 February 2009 6:58 PM
  • Source: Scotland On Sunday
  • Location: Scotland
  • Related Topics: Nuclear energy
 
1

webwise,

Scotland 14/02/2009 21:58:38
Does Jim Murphy do anything else other than make frequent visits to Scotland launching attacks on the democratically elected government?

It seems that anything this guy utters is immediately transformed into a headline.

One day a journalist might actually take him to ask over these assertions.
2

Rufus-T-Firefly,

14/02/2009 23:53:32
As usual Jim Murphy is correct.

If Salmond has his way, we will all be relying on candles for light by the year 2020.
3

,

15/02/2009 00:22:44
Comment Removed By Administrator
Reason:
4

connaughtboy,

stonehaven 15/02/2009 00:53:04
Nonsense. Labour are anti nuclear so why would they oppose the SNP on this.

Ooops, sorry that was "old" Labour, from an era when they had some morals....
5

subrosa,

15/02/2009 01:04:41
# 4

They've all forgotten their roots. Jobs for the future will be in the new industries which are being created to ensure we have enough power.
6

frank mcbride,

lusitania 15/02/2009 01:04:54
It's interesting, isn't it, that today's ComRes Poll is not mentioned in this journal.

For info. - UK voting intentions.

Tory - 41%

NuLab - 25%

LD - 18%

I think Mr Brown may have broken the trampoline, just like he has broken the economy.
7

Curley Bill,

15/02/2009 01:08:02
If you cast your mind back to the dim and distant Best Wee Numptie administration, you will find that Jock McDonald and his minions led the Scottish Parliament in an agreement of no more nuclear power, remember?
What we have now is the havers of that well known draft-dodger, Murphy - the man who believes in independence for Ireland but not for Scotland.
Murphy and Gray, what a pair -
the Spud and Fudd Show.
8

UK007,

15/02/2009 01:30:06
#2 RFT - Can you explain why 2020 ?
9

Edward,

15/02/2009 02:24:26
Eon and EDF must be leaning on Labour as pay back for the trips and junkets they gave certain Labour MP's
Now Labour are leaning on their media contacts to sell the idea to Scotland
10

Edward,

15/02/2009 02:27:26
"It means Scotland misses out on thousands of good, well-paid jobs."
ermm no its doesnt actually as Scotland is going to be heavily involved in new technology concerning renewable energy, most likely more than British Energy, sorry new owners EDF (the one with Gordon Browns brother ) will create
11

,

15/02/2009 05:33:07
Comment Removed By Administrator
Reason:
12

UK007,

15/02/2009 05:42:17
#2 RFT I am very disappointed in you because after waiting for over 4 hours still no answer to my question #8 - Can you explain why 2020 ?
13

overshot,

perth 15/02/2009 06:31:53
The only connection Scotland will be allowed to have with nuclear energy, will be as a dumping ground for the waste. As it was under the tories.
14

Castaway™ ,

15/02/2009 06:38:48
#10 Edward: Ref Scotland is going to be heavily involved in new technology concerning renewable energy,.
UP TO 10 giant wind farms are to be built off the Scottish coastline as part of a revolution in providing green energy to homes and businesses throughout the country.
The Crown Estate, which owns the seabed out to the 12-mile British territorial limit, will tomorrow award "exclusivity agreements" to a range of power companies to develop 10 offshore wind farm sites.
If all 10 are built as planned, they are forecast to produce 6.4 gigawatts of power, more than doubling the amount of electricity produced by renewable forms of energy in Scotland at present and providing enough power for around four million homes. SOS - 15 February 2009
http://tinyurl.com/cjy9t6
15

The Tin Man,

15/02/2009 07:22:56
#10 Edward

Please explain what 'new technology' that would be? Apart from the generator, itself, we are talking about pre-industrail technology, here.

Steam turbines are made in Scotland.

Windmills are manufactured in Denmark.

We get to erect then, and install spare parts made in Denmark. End of story.
16

The Tin Man,

15/02/2009 07:57:59
I dispair. We really do have people who are so ill-educated that they think that windmills are 'new technology', while sitting in front of a computer!
17

greenhill,

15/02/2009 08:51:34
By 2015 it is estimated there will be a new nuclear power station starting up every 5 days somewhere in the World.This planet will be festooned with nuclear power stations.

The fact that the SNP intends to spew out masses of radioactivity and other toxins into the atmosphere via dirty coal demonstrates a callous disregard for human life.



18

Ananurhing,

15/02/2009 08:55:00
Murphy must be the only member of Broon's cabinet with a clear idea of what he's doing. Undermine Scottish democracy at every turn and grease the way for a Calman power grab. That's the extent of his brief.

Does he really think there'll be a Broon administration by the time Calman reports? Ah hae ma doots.
19

John S,

15/02/2009 09:01:07
Why is a nuclear power station the only option for Scotland, why not a gas fired power station like they are building in England and Wales ?

Why is this present UK Government desperate to build a nuclear power station in Scotland when they have allowed 13 (gas fired) power stations for England and Wales which have been approved or are under construction to be built having a total capacity of approx 15,270MW plus the expansion of 4 other gas-fired power stations with a total expanded capacity of approx 1,700MW.

The first coal-fired power station in Britain for more than 30 years has been approved by a local government authority.Medway Council in Kent gave the green light to the £1bn Kingsnorth plant.8 Jan 2008 Waiting approval from the government.
20

Selgovae,

15/02/2009 09:01:11
#15, #16

" Apart from the generator, itself, we are talking about pre-industrail technology, here."

That's a bit like saying for nuclear power, "Apart from the fuel itself, we are talking about boiling water here."
21

bully wee alba,

Edinburgh 15/02/2009 09:11:17
It seems at best disrespectful for a representative of a different Government to come to our country and brief against the policies of our Government.

If there is any valid role for the post of Secretary of State for Scotland in Westminster, this role should be carried out by a member, and nominee of the ruling party in Holyrood.

Who better to represent Scotland’s interests in Westminster, than a Scottish Ambassador appointed from within the numbers of the elected Scottish Parliament?

22

The Tin Man,

15/02/2009 09:12:43
#20 Selgovae

Your comment is yet another reason for despair - is 'Scottish' and 'engineer' becoming an anathema? A car is more complicated than a wind turbine.

#19 John

This goes beyond the 'no-nukes' stance. It is very unlikely that anyone would try to build any more fossil-fuel powered generating capacity in Scotland, due to the exec's policy on greenhouse gas emissions.
23

The Tin Man,

15/02/2009 09:14:16
#21 bully

You might be right, but at least Murphy is making a valid point.
24

Wardog™,

15/02/2009 09:17:59


Just how many Nuclear Power Stations is Murphy proposing in Scotland ?

Can he clarify who will be building them, will it be 'British Jobs for British Workers'?



25

Wardog™,

15/02/2009 09:18:52


21. An excellent point, each of the devolved nations should have a seat at the cabinet.

26

Wardog™,

15/02/2009 09:20:08


12. Rufus posts from a crib sheet, I understand it doesn't get updated until tomorrow
27

Wardog™,

15/02/2009 09:29:40


Jims Arc of Radioactivity?




No Thanks

Scotland will play a leading part of the Arc of Sustainability


http://scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com/scotland/Green-giants-herald-power-revolution.4982036.jp
28

Unimpressed one,

15/02/2009 09:39:18
#27, the only 'arc of sustainability' on the horizon is the growth of labouring jobs in the future to decommission the hundreds of useless windmills that will litter the Scottish countryside. No doubt the SNP will claim it is Europe's biggest re-cycler by then.
29

Selgovae,

15/02/2009 09:39:59
#22 Tin Man

Sorry, I don't follow your logic. Are you defining the worthiness of technology by its levels of "complexity"? That would put Heath-Robinson above James Watt in the achievement list.

If some engineers manage to supply our electricity needs by using windmills, I would regard that as a technological advancement of some note, and would make them the envy of engineers everywhere. (Whether it's likely to happen is a different matter.) And before you misrepresent me, I generally support nuclear power, and have a great love for advanced technology. (Just wish I could afford some.)
30

The Tin Man,

15/02/2009 09:40:37
Another nail in the coffin of the Scottish construction industry. At least we can drive over the Forth bridge for free, until it falls down.
31

Wardog™,

15/02/2009 09:46:48

27. Whilst Labour's High Commissioner for Scotland, Jim Murphy tours the colonies advocating some obscene desire for Scotland of all places to reinvest in new Nuclear Plants, the Crown Estate with the support of the Scottish Government will tomorrow award "exclusivity agreements" to a range of power companies to develop 10 offshore wind farm sites.

UP TO 10 giant wind farms are to be built off the Scottish coastline which if all 10 are built as planned will produce 6.4 GIGAWATTS of power, more than doubling the amount of electricity produced by renewable forms of energy in Scotland at present and providing enough power for around 4 million homes.

There are currently 2.6 million homes in Scotland at present.
32

The Tin Man,

15/02/2009 09:47:25
#29 Selgovae

Renewable enery is not so much an area for engineering research, more an area for research on resource ecomomics, ie. if it was cheaper than thermal power generation, we wouldn't have many thermal power plants.

There is nothing wrong with renewable energy, as long as the consumers are willing to pay for it.
33

Wardog™,

15/02/2009 09:51:24

30. Has Brown reiterated his 'British Jobs for British Workers'

I hadn't realised that their were construction firms in the Uk with a proven track record of delivering nuclear power stations..... did they diversify into housebuilding during the 'lean' years?

Maybe Jim can quantify and detail how exactly he'll prevent the work going entirely to European contractors and sub contractors?

or will be like the white paper, full of get out clauses for private companies to receive bailouts..... not the best topics at the moment.



34

Iain Ban,

15/02/2009 09:52:00
If New Labour wants new nuclear power stations, why don't they build them in England? I'm sure the English are going to vote in droves for puir wee Gordo if he does that. Nice to see that NuLab hasn't lost touch with reality.

35

Wardog™,

15/02/2009 09:53:17


28. Beats the Arc of Radiaoacity hands down I'd say
36

Wardog™,

15/02/2009 09:54:27


34. That's exactly it, England does actually need them unless they smother there green and pleasant countryside with wind turbines. Scotland doesn't.

Murphy is offering a union dividend that as so often involves Scots subsidising England with power.

37

Wardog™,

15/02/2009 09:56:07

UP TO 10 giant wind farms are to be built off the Scottish coastline which if all 10 are built as planned will produce 6.4 GIGAWATTS of power, more than doubling the amount of electricity produced by renewable forms of energy in Scotland at present and providing enough power for around 4 million homes.

Scotland's target is 50% by 2020.

We've all but met out 30% by 2011

Scotland is on it's way to being a Green Energy Powerhouse Exporter.

38

LEAL,

15/02/2009 10:00:25
Scotland does not need nuclear power.
39

Selgovae,

15/02/2009 10:05:21
#32 Tin Man

"if it was cheaper than thermal power generation, we wouldn't have many thermal power plants."

Can't argue with that. But surely the point is that as relative costs change, the marginal benefit of one technology over another also changes. So if thermal production gets more expensive, which seems likely, any advancements in wind or tidal sourced energy will put it closer to the margin. Even a 1% improvement in efficiency of wind-powered generation will at some point make a difference.
40

bully wee alba,

Edinburgh 15/02/2009 10:07:55
#32 Tin Man

“Renewable enery is not so much an area for engineering research, more an area for research on resource ecomomics,”

The engineers employed by Wavegen, a renewable energy research company based in Inverness might disagree with you.
41

The Tin Man,

15/02/2009 10:11:16
#37 Wardog

Where did you hear that? I didn't know that there were any existing plans to build commercial offshore windmills. Why not just put then on top of a hill?

#40 bully

I doubt it.
42

Wardog™,

15/02/2009 10:14:28

37. Source Scotsman

http://scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com/scotland/Green-giants-herald-power-revolution.4982036.jp

Jim Murphy, the High Commissioner for Scotland and the Colonies is opening a major international gathering of nuclear spin doctors in Edinburgh tomorrow.........

Not like Labour to be dallying with Big Business and Lobbyists is it.



43

Queen D,

Glasgow 15/02/2009 10:15:19
You really are rusty Tin Man !
Never mention education by misspelling DESPAIR!
44

connaughtboy,

stonehaven 15/02/2009 11:05:37
16 tinman states:

"I dispair. We really do have people who are so ill-educated that they think that windmills are 'new technology', while sitting in front of a computer!"

Well, actually I too despair (note the correct spelling). I despair of people who are so ill-educated that they are confusing "windmills" with "wind turbines".
45

connaughtboy,

stonehaven 15/02/2009 11:12:20
22 tinman

Ooops, looks like you did it again! I trust you will now stop commenting on the education standards of others when yours is so patently poor. Example:

"becoming an anathema"

Even without a good education, you have a pc. If you don't know the meaning of a word, either don't use the word or check its meaning before using it. That way you won't look like an absolute idiot.
46

Observer,,

Glasgow 15/02/2009 11:39:39
It would be completely mental for a country that has so many possibilities for natural energy to invest in nuclear power. That isn't natural and we don't know what to do with the waste, that's a fact. If jobs are lost by not going nuclear they will be replaced by exploring all the other options that are open to us. To go nuclear is small thinking and it isn't what people want us to do.
47

Edward Cullen Skink,

15/02/2009 12:11:52
Meanwhile Lord Foulkes is under investigation by the Parliamentray Standards commissioner, having taken tens of thousands for lobbying for a pro-nuclear group....
Lord Foulkes Faces Probe Over Legal Consultancy (from Sunday Herald)A SENIOR Labour MSP is facing a Holyrood investigation into his lucrative work as a lobbyist in the House of Lords. George Foulkes, who doubles up as a peer ...
www.sundayherald.com/news/heraldnews/display.var.2486154.0.lord_foulkes_faces_probe_over_legal_consultancy.php - 12k - Cached - Similar pages
Foulkes in cash-for-access controversyG
eorge Foulkes ADMITS that he sells access to the House of Lords. He takes money from nuclear fuels companies to intrduce their lobbyists to the chairs of ...
48

,

15/02/2009 12:34:45
Comment Removed By Administrator
Reason:
49

Rock Lobster,

15/02/2009 13:06:38

The hoo haa that Murphy is trying to generate here is all about removing powers from the Scottish Government.


50

Calum Crubag,

15/02/2009 13:21:34
We can't subsidise immoral industries just because they support jobs. In that case we should legailse all drugs - might make sense actually - and sex traffiking.
51

John S,

15/02/2009 13:40:16
#22 It is very unlikely that anyone would try to build any more fossil-fuel powered generating capacity in Scotland.

Wether this goes ahead - Plans to build a new £2billion state-of-the-art coal and biomass fired power station (1,600 MW) station were revealed yesterday.The new power station would be built at Hunterston in Ayrshire. 21 Nov 2008

National Grid to pipe carbon dioxide emissions under North Sea.....about the plan, which could be replicated at other locations around the UK where clusters of coal-fired power stations exist, including Scotland and East Anglia. Times February 11, 2009

52

 sm753,

15/02/2009 15:38:25
52

Oooo, David Icke is back.

Met any shapeshifting alien lizards yet?
53

pehman,

sussex 15/02/2009 15:44:49

Note the skull say's nothing about the French nuclear companies employing French construction workers, and Scotland getting to take the nuclear sh 1 t dump of the French German and english stations
54

pehman,

sussex 15/02/2009 15:51:44

I also noted the skull kept avoiding the Q about Scotlands needs. he kept deliberetly talking about uk needs
55

pehman,

sussex 15/02/2009 16:04:07

42 Wardog™,15/02/2009 10:14:28

37. Source Scotsman

http://scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com/scotland/Green-giants-herald-power-revolution.4982036.jp

Jim Murphy, the High Commissioner for Scotland and the Colonies is opening a major international gathering of nuclear spin doctors in Edinburgh tomorrow.........

Not like Labour to be dallying with Big Business and Lobbyists is it.

Ah but is declaring it in his expences, or is this a brown envelope job.

Tomorrow Alex Salmond opens a new marine power development, while the skull skurries around trying to grab a headline
56

greenhill,

15/02/2009 17:41:01
Wardog™,15/02/2009 15:08:20 "Construction of a nuclear power station requires huge amounts of energy to make the steel and concrete. This energy comes mostly from oil and coal. If the whole power station life-cycle is taken into account, nuclear power is responsible for significant CO2 emissions."

Wardoug you are a deluded nutbag.Your comment is self evidently disingenuous.The co2 used in setup is well offset over the 60 year lifespan of a modern nuclear power plant.You are a massive liar.
57

connaughtboy,

stonehaven 15/02/2009 20:42:34
58 in what way is it "offset"?
58

Fairfax,

16/02/2009 12:50:25
Wardog (53): "Construction of a nuclear power station requires huge amounts of energy to make the steel and concrete."

That's correct. However, your observation applied to any large-scale industrial facility, whether wind-, solar-, tide-power, or carbon capture.

"This energy comes mostly from oil and coal. If the whole power station life-cycle is taken into account, nuclear power is responsible for significant CO2 emissions."

The pollution produced by uranium mining is not obviously greater than that required for any other mining industry. The production of U235 is energy-intensive, but is therefore typically powered via hydro-electricity.

 

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