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John Swinney has been accused of playing politics with national security after pleading with Andy Burnham to allow a Chinese wind farm plant to proceed despite being warned of the risks.
The First Minister made a direct plea to the new Prime Minister to reconsider the decision to block the proposed Ming Yang turbine manufacturing facility at Ardersier in the Highlands.
But he came under fire from Labour ministers after previously being given a security briefing by the UK Government which made clear some of the risks involved of giving a Chinese firm involvement in national infrastructure.
UK Energy Minister Michael Shanks yesterday branded Mr Swinney as ‘irresponsible’ for renewing his demand for the plant to go ahead, and said he should balance making a ‘political intervention’ against national security considerations.
The SNP Government said that the First Minister wrote to Mr Burnham to demand a review of the decision ‘while recognising the importance of national security considerations’.
Mr Shanks, a minister in the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, said he was ‘surprised’ to see the intervention because during the Holyrood election campaign he made the same point ‘and I personally made sure he had a security briefing at the highest level, which he did undertake to have’.
He told BBC Radio Scotland Breakfast: ‘I think it is surprising that he has now decided to come out, having had that security briefing, and continued to pursue this.
‘I think it is for him to answer why he is balancing what seems to me to be a political intervention against the country’s national security. I think it is irresponsible for the First Minister to do that.’
John Swinney takes part in the ceremonial groundbreaking at Ardersier Port
A ferry navigates past wind turbines off the coast of Aberdeen
He added: ‘There is no inherent reason why the UK Government would not want to see jobs created in the north of Scotland either, and so I hope people would take it on face value that when I say there are national security implications that is a legitimate reason for us to say no to a particular investment.’
Mr Shanks refused to reveal the details of the security risks, saying that is ‘classified information’.
According to the Scotsman, Mr Swinney urged Mr Burnham to rethink the UK Government’s decision to block the Ming Yang development during their first meeting since he became Prime Minister.
He argued that the proposed £1.5billion investment would boost the economy, following projections that up to 1,500 jobs could be created.
The First Minister followed up on the talks by writing to Mr Burnham about the issue.
In a statement, Scottish Government Energy Minister Stephen Gethins said: ‘We are deeply disappointed that the UK Government blocked the use of Ming Yang turbines in UK waters and in doing so prevented Ming Yang’s investment at Ardersier. That decision by the UK Government will have had implications for jobs and investment locally, but we are continuing to work with the facility and I look forward to my visit there today.
‘While recognising the importance of national security considerations, the First Minister has written to the new Prime Minister urging the UK Government to undertake a review of the assessment, highlighting the economic and industrial significance of Ming Yang’s £1.5billion investment proposal and the potential benefits for Scotland’s economy, supply chain development, and the wider UK renewable energy industry.
‘Scotland has a tremendous offshore energy opportunity and we would encourage the UK Government to fully get behind that ambition.’
Earlier this year, Mr Swinney accused the UK Government of ‘an anti-Scottish move’ when it stepped in to stop the facility being built amid the concerns over national security.
Tory MP Andrew Bowie, the Shadow Scottish Secretary, said: ‘Andy Burnham must resist these calls to overturn his predecessor’s ban on this project.
‘While we all want to support growth in the energy sector across the United Kingdom, I still have real concerns over what this company’s involvement would mean for our national security.
‘If Labour’s new Prime Minister really wants to meet our energy needs, he should avoid relying on hostile regimes, and instead finally back new drilling in the North Sea.’
Aman Wang, UK chief executive of Ming Yang, said: ‘We were disappointed by the government’s decision in March.
‘We fully respect the government’s duty to protect national security, and have always been clear that we will meet the requirements the UK sets.
‘Our proposed investment at Ardersier would bring £1.5billion of investment and up to 1,500 direct jobs, with up to 8,000 more in the supply chain.
‘We are committed to supporting the growth in every postcode that this Government wants to see, to re-industrialisation and to lowering energy bills.’