Labour MPs plot to strip Salmond of nuclear veto powers

ALEX Salmond should be stripped of his powers to block nuclear power stations north of the Border, according to Labour MPs who want Scotland's veto over atomic energy handed back to Westminster.

Leading members of the Scottish party are urging Trade and Industry Secretary Alistair Darling to overrule Salmond, who last week said he would prevent the construction of new nuclear stations north of the Border.

They claim the nation's energy supply and thousands of jobs should not be left at the mercy of an "irresponsible and prejudiced" Scottish National Party administration in Holyrood, which took power with a pledge to make Scotland nuclear-free.

The SNP last night described the bid as a "desperate last throw of the dice" and vowed to prevent any attempt to snatch powers away from them. The Scottish Executive has powers to decide over major planning decisions, but Westminster can opt to take them back if it decides the need is there.

The calls are being led by Scots Labour MPs with close links to Scotland's two nuclear stations at Hunterston and Torness.

Michael Connarty, deputy chairman of the MPs' nuclear energy group, said: "If we have a nuclear power station at the moment and people say they want to keep it, there's no way the prejudice of an SNP administration should prevent it being replaced after it is decommissioned. We should not

allow the planning rules to make us hidebound by the prejudice of the SNP."

He added: "It is not a matter of taking anything away. There should be the same rules for everyone - those rules should be sensible."

Labour MP Anne Moffat, whose East Lothian constituency includes Torness, added: "I don't think it [taking back the powers] should be ruled out and I am convinced it is on Darling's mind. The energy supply and the security of the supply are so fundamental that I don't think we can risk it in the hands of an irresponsible Executive in Scotland under any circumstances."

John Robertson, chairman of the all-party MPs' nuclear energy group,

added: "We have to have a national strategy and Scotland should be part of this. We need to try to get rules that are the same all over the country."

The backlash against the SNP follows the publication of Britain's energy white paper last week which paved the way for a new generation of nuclear power stations across the UK.

Salmond claims that Scotland can keep the lights burning - and export electricity - by promoting renewable energy and expanding new technologies in clean coal.

But industry experts fear that without nuclear, Scotland could end up importing energy. Bill Coley, chief executive of British Energy - Britain's main producer of nuclear energy - said : "I believe that with the aggressive targets that we have established for [being] carbon neutral in the UK, there's no other way [than nuclear]."

An SNP spokesman attacked the move by Labour MPs. "This sounds like a desperate last throw of the dice by Labour's pro-nuclear lobby at Westminster."

A Department of Trade & Industry Spokesman said last night: "We are not planning to reopen this issue."