Scotland is becoming globally isolated on nuclear power and missing out on much needed skilled jobs and economic growth because of the Scottish government’s ideological stance on nuclear power, a British minister has said.

Secretary of state for Scotland Ian Murray said nuclear energy could create thousands of new, highly-skilled jobs in Scotland, while delivering clean, secure and more affordable energy for working people. Reliable, cheap nuclear power can support critical modern infrastructure in Scotland, such as supercomputers.

Speaking ahead of a visit to Torness nuclear power station to the east of Edinburgh in East Lothian on 3 July, Murray cited new research which shows that Scotland risks becoming one of few areas in Europe where the devolved government is publicly against new nuclear development.