Miliband Promises New Nuclear Stations if SNP Ousted

Published: 23 October 2025. The English Chronicle Des. The English Chronicle Online.

Ed Miliband has pledged to immediately begin construction of new nuclear power stations in Scotland if the SNP is voted out of office in next year’s Holyrood election. Speaking on energy policy, the UK Energy Secretary said that building nuclear plants would provide a reliable power supply and create thousands of clean energy jobs across Scotland.

For nearly two decades, SNP ministers have used their planning powers to block the development of new nuclear facilities north of the border. Miliband’s plan would reverse that stance, inviting the global nuclear industry to explore potential investment opportunities on the very first day of a Labour-led Scottish Government.

“I think we can do even more in Scotland, and we can do even more through new nuclear,” Miliband said. “Scotland has a proud nuclear history, but it is being held back by the SNP’s anti-growth, anti-jobs ban on new nuclear power.”

As part of his proposal, Miliband has ordered Great British Energy – Nuclear to assess potential sites for new plants, including replacements for the country’s last operational nuclear station. This follows the closure of the Hunterston B plant in North Ayrshire in January 2022. Torness in East Lothian, which currently provides around 15 per cent of Scotland’s electricity, is scheduled to close in 2030. This would leave Scotland without nuclear generation for the first time in seven decades.

Senior UK Government officials argue that the SNP’s reliance on intermittent wind energy has left Scotland without a consistent power source, making nuclear an essential component for energy security. Surveys indicate that 56 per cent of Scottish adults support including nuclear power in the country’s energy mix, with 52 per cent of SNP voters in agreement.

Miliband’s announcement coincides with broader UK investments in nuclear energy, including the Sizewell development in Suffolk, expected to power six million homes for 60 years, and a partnership with Rolls-Royce to deploy small modular reactors. Currently, no such reactors are planned for Scotland due to the SNP’s planning veto.

During a briefing with Scottish journalists at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero in Whitehall, Miliband outlined Labour’s vision for clean energy job growth. He said that Labour aims to create 40,000 additional clean energy jobs in Scotland by 2030, with potential for significant expansion if nuclear energy is included.

“If Scotland elects a Labour Government on May 6, then on the morning of May 7, we will invite the world’s nuclear industry to begin talks about investing in Scottish locations,” Miliband stated. “We are asking Great British Energy to assess Scotland’s capability for new nuclear power stations, including at Torness and Hunterston.”

The proposal has already drawn reactions from industry and political figures alike. Tom Greatrex, chief executive of the Nuclear Industry Association, welcomed the initiative, noting that new nuclear plants could deliver thousands of skilled jobs, billions of pounds in investment, and clean, reliable electricity for generations.

However, the SNP has reacted with strong opposition. Paul McLennan, an SNP MSP, criticised the plan as an attempt by Westminster to bypass Scottish decision-making. “If a failing, unpopular UK Labour Government thinks it can impose new nuclear power on Scotland, they are in for a surprise,” he said. “The idea that this out-of-touch government believes it can override the Scottish Government shows a complete contempt for Scotland.”

The debate over nuclear power comes amid the broader Holyrood election campaign, where energy policy and climate commitments are likely to be decisive issues. Miliband and Scottish Labour are presenting themselves as advocates for a balance of renewable and nuclear power, emphasising energy security, economic growth, and job creation.

With the closure of Scotland’s existing nuclear plants looming and increasing pressure to meet net-zero targets, the decision on future energy infrastructure has become both a political and environmental flashpoint. Miliband’s proposal, while supported by industry bodies and sections of the public, faces substantial resistance from the SNP, who argue that nuclear energy is expensive, unsafe, and unnecessary when wind and other renewables are fully deployed.

As discussions continue, the coming months are likely to see an intense debate over the future of nuclear power in Scotland, with Labour seeking to position itself as a party of growth, innovation, and clean energy, while the SNP defends its long-standing stance against new nuclear developments.