LABOUR SPLITS EMERGE ON SCOTTISH NUCLEAR POWER STATIONS VOTE.
EMBARRASSMENT FOR SARAH BOYACK AS SHE VOTES FOR NUCLEAR POWER.
Three Labour backbenchers rebelled against their group tonight as they voted against the rest of their party by opposing the construction of new nuclear power stations in Scotland. The vote was also an embarrassment for Labour’s spokesperson on the environment, Sarah Boyack, as she voted against the LibDem amendment despite the fact she tabled two motions in the last parliamentary session against new nuclear power stations.
The three Labour rebels were Cathie Peattie, Marlyn Glen, Elaine Smith.
Commenting on Labour’s nuclear disarray SNP MSP Shirley-Anne Somerville - a member of the Scottish Parliament's Transport and Climate Change Committee – said:
"This is embarrassing for Iain Gray on the eve of Labour conference as he cannot keep his group together with three of his backbenchers rebelling against his support for new nuclear power.
“It is equally embarrassing for Sarah Boyack who now has to explain why she voted against the very position she was promoting in the last Parliamentary session. Equally, Malcolm Chisholm and Pauline McNeill have questions to answer since they emphatically opposed nuclear power as well.
"It would appear that they cannot stand up to Gordon Brown’s obsession with new nuclear and are simply doing as they are told?
" A nuclear power grab by Westminster is totally unacceptable to the overwhelming majority of Scots and will be wholly opposed by the both SNP MPs and MSPs.
"Our energy position is clear - we will focus on developing the comparative advantage that Scotland has in clean, green energy.
"Sarah Boyack won many people's respect with her opposition to nuclear power. Now, by following Gordon Brown’s obsession and supporting new nuclear power stations in Scotland she and Iain Gray have confirmed their places as the voice of London Labour in the Scottish Parliament."
ENDS
Notes:
1. The LibDem amendment is as follows:
S3M-3584.1.1 Alison McInnes: National Planning Framework for Scotland 2 - Proposed Framework—As an amendment to amendment (S3M-3584.1) in the name of David McLetchie, insert at end “and reaffirms that in accordance with paragraph 152 of the National Planning Framework for Scotland 2 proposed framework document it does not support the construction of new nuclear power stations in Scotland.”
Yes votes: 65
No votes: 54
Abstentions: 1
Not voting: 9
Those Labour MSPs in favour of the motion were:
Marlyn Glen, (North East Scotland) (Lab)
Cathy Peattie, (Falkirk East) (Lab)
Elaine Smith, (Coatbridge and Chryston) (Lab)
Those Labour MSPs who voted against, despite their previous opposition, were:
Sarah Boyack, (Edinburgh Central) (Lab)
Malcolm Chisholm, (Edinburgh North and Leith) (Lab)
Pauline McNeill, (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab)
2. Malcolm Chisholm, when he was the Scottish Executive Communities Minister, said on BBC Scotland's The Politics Show (16th July 2006):
"I think the majority of people in Scotland would like to see a mix of non carbon-based energy production, without nuclear, if it can be done." He added: "I personally don't think the case has been made for new nuclear power stations in Scotland."
3. Sarah Boyack’s anti-nuclear motions. She tabled two motions supported by other Labour MSPs (One by Marlyn Glen, Maureen Macmillan and Cathy Peattie who also supported another along with Trish Godman, Pauline McNeill and Kate Maclean)
S2M-4428 Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab) : The Energy Challenge
That the Parliament believes that the argument for new nuclear build in the United Kingdom has not been made; notes that, even with an accelerated planning system, new nuclear power stations could not contribute either to plugging the "energy gap" or to carbon reductions by 2020 when existing electricity generating capacity is run down and carbon emissions have to be curbed; further notes that existing Scottish electricity generation is provided 22% by gas, 26% by coal, 35% by nuclear and 13% by renewables but that around 17% of electricity generated in Scotland is exported; further notes that massive investment in new infrastructure across the UK is providing for a diversity of gas supply from many countries including Norway, with Russian gas only contributing around 1%, and that new clean coal technologies are now available; also notes that the supply of wind power is growing faster than predicted and that in Germany wind power capacity is already equivalent to UK nuclear capacity; further believes that new nuclear build would be inconsistent with environmental sustainability, adding to the legacy of highly toxic nuclear waste and the huge public cost of decommissioning and storage; urges the Scottish Executive to see the bigger picture in which electricity accounts for just 19% of total energy consumed in Scotland and carbon emissions by sector were last recorded as 17% transport, 11% domestic, 12% business and 37% energy supply, and further urges the Executive to recognise the enormous potential for reducing energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions by energy efficiency and conservation, greater use of combined heat and power and rapid investment in the full range of renewable technologies, including microgeneration and biomass.
Supported by: Mr Brian Adam, Roseanna Cunningham, Marlyn Glen, Christine Grahame, Robin Harper, Mr Adam Ingram, Nora Radcliffe, Mr Mark Ruskell, Tommy Sheridan, Ms Rosemary Byrne, Maureen Macmillan, Chris Ballance, Linda Fabiani, Richard Lochhead, Jean Turner, Rosie Kane, Ms Maureen Watt, Cathy Peattie
S2M-4061 Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab) : Nuclear Power in Scotland
That the Parliament welcomes the publication of the Sustainable Development Commission's nuclear review which evaluates the contribution of nuclear power in a low carbon economy; acknowledges the survey for BBC Scotland's Energy Week which found that more than 52% of people prefer renewable energy resources and 51% oppose nuclear power stations being built in Scotland; notes the Scottish Executive's current position that there will be no support for the further development of nuclear power stations while waste management issues remain unresolved; believes that underground, retrievable, monitored storage is not a long-term or sustainable solution for nuclear waste; supports the conclusion that nuclear power is not the answer to tackling climate change or security of supply, and urges the maximum use of energy efficiency measures, alongside renewable energy and micro-generation capacity, to meet the energy needs of people in Scotland
Supported by: Mr Brian Adam, Bruce Crawford, Marlyn Glen, Trish Godman, Donald Gorrie, Christine Grahame, Robin Harper, Maureen Macmillan, Pauline McNeill, Nora Radcliffe, Iain Smith, Shiona Baird, Ms Rosemary Byrne, Patrick Harvie, Kate Maclean, Eleanor Scott, Tommy Sheridan, Mr Adam Ingram, Cathy Peattie, Chris Ballance, Mike Pringle, Linda Fabiani, Rosie Kane.
EMBARRASSMENT FOR SARAH BOYACK AS SHE VOTES FOR NUCLEAR POWER.
Three Labour backbenchers rebelled against their group tonight as they voted against the rest of their party by opposing the construction of new nuclear power stations in Scotland. The vote was also an embarrassment for Labour’s spokesperson on the environment, Sarah Boyack, as she voted against the LibDem amendment despite the fact she tabled two motions in the last parliamentary session against new nuclear power stations.
The three Labour rebels were Cathie Peattie, Marlyn Glen, Elaine Smith.
Commenting on Labour’s nuclear disarray SNP MSP Shirley-Anne Somerville - a member of the Scottish Parliament's Transport and Climate Change Committee – said:
"This is embarrassing for Iain Gray on the eve of Labour conference as he cannot keep his group together with three of his backbenchers rebelling against his support for new nuclear power.
“It is equally embarrassing for Sarah Boyack who now has to explain why she voted against the very position she was promoting in the last Parliamentary session. Equally, Malcolm Chisholm and Pauline McNeill have questions to answer since they emphatically opposed nuclear power as well.
"It would appear that they cannot stand up to Gordon Brown’s obsession with new nuclear and are simply doing as they are told?
" A nuclear power grab by Westminster is totally unacceptable to the overwhelming majority of Scots and will be wholly opposed by the both SNP MPs and MSPs.
"Our energy position is clear - we will focus on developing the comparative advantage that Scotland has in clean, green energy.
"Sarah Boyack won many people's respect with her opposition to nuclear power. Now, by following Gordon Brown’s obsession and supporting new nuclear power stations in Scotland she and Iain Gray have confirmed their places as the voice of London Labour in the Scottish Parliament."
ENDS
Notes:
1. The LibDem amendment is as follows:
S3M-3584.1.1 Alison McInnes: National Planning Framework for Scotland 2 - Proposed Framework—As an amendment to amendment (S3M-3584.1) in the name of David McLetchie, insert at end “and reaffirms that in accordance with paragraph 152 of the National Planning Framework for Scotland 2 proposed framework document it does not support the construction of new nuclear power stations in Scotland.”
Yes votes: 65
No votes: 54
Abstentions: 1
Not voting: 9
Those Labour MSPs in favour of the motion were:
Marlyn Glen, (North East Scotland) (Lab)
Cathy Peattie, (Falkirk East) (Lab)
Elaine Smith, (Coatbridge and Chryston) (Lab)
Those Labour MSPs who voted against, despite their previous opposition, were:
Sarah Boyack, (Edinburgh Central) (Lab)
Malcolm Chisholm, (Edinburgh North and Leith) (Lab)
Pauline McNeill, (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab)
2. Malcolm Chisholm, when he was the Scottish Executive Communities Minister, said on BBC Scotland's The Politics Show (16th July 2006):
"I think the majority of people in Scotland would like to see a mix of non carbon-based energy production, without nuclear, if it can be done." He added: "I personally don't think the case has been made for new nuclear power stations in Scotland."
3. Sarah Boyack’s anti-nuclear motions. She tabled two motions supported by other Labour MSPs (One by Marlyn Glen, Maureen Macmillan and Cathy Peattie who also supported another along with Trish Godman, Pauline McNeill and Kate Maclean)
S2M-4428 Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab) : The Energy Challenge
That the Parliament believes that the argument for new nuclear build in the United Kingdom has not been made; notes that, even with an accelerated planning system, new nuclear power stations could not contribute either to plugging the "energy gap" or to carbon reductions by 2020 when existing electricity generating capacity is run down and carbon emissions have to be curbed; further notes that existing Scottish electricity generation is provided 22% by gas, 26% by coal, 35% by nuclear and 13% by renewables but that around 17% of electricity generated in Scotland is exported; further notes that massive investment in new infrastructure across the UK is providing for a diversity of gas supply from many countries including Norway, with Russian gas only contributing around 1%, and that new clean coal technologies are now available; also notes that the supply of wind power is growing faster than predicted and that in Germany wind power capacity is already equivalent to UK nuclear capacity; further believes that new nuclear build would be inconsistent with environmental sustainability, adding to the legacy of highly toxic nuclear waste and the huge public cost of decommissioning and storage; urges the Scottish Executive to see the bigger picture in which electricity accounts for just 19% of total energy consumed in Scotland and carbon emissions by sector were last recorded as 17% transport, 11% domestic, 12% business and 37% energy supply, and further urges the Executive to recognise the enormous potential for reducing energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions by energy efficiency and conservation, greater use of combined heat and power and rapid investment in the full range of renewable technologies, including microgeneration and biomass.
Supported by: Mr Brian Adam, Roseanna Cunningham, Marlyn Glen, Christine Grahame, Robin Harper, Mr Adam Ingram, Nora Radcliffe, Mr Mark Ruskell, Tommy Sheridan, Ms Rosemary Byrne, Maureen Macmillan, Chris Ballance, Linda Fabiani, Richard Lochhead, Jean Turner, Rosie Kane, Ms Maureen Watt, Cathy Peattie
S2M-4061 Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab) : Nuclear Power in Scotland
That the Parliament welcomes the publication of the Sustainable Development Commission's nuclear review which evaluates the contribution of nuclear power in a low carbon economy; acknowledges the survey for BBC Scotland's Energy Week which found that more than 52% of people prefer renewable energy resources and 51% oppose nuclear power stations being built in Scotland; notes the Scottish Executive's current position that there will be no support for the further development of nuclear power stations while waste management issues remain unresolved; believes that underground, retrievable, monitored storage is not a long-term or sustainable solution for nuclear waste; supports the conclusion that nuclear power is not the answer to tackling climate change or security of supply, and urges the maximum use of energy efficiency measures, alongside renewable energy and micro-generation capacity, to meet the energy needs of people in Scotland
Supported by: Mr Brian Adam, Bruce Crawford, Marlyn Glen, Trish Godman, Donald Gorrie, Christine Grahame, Robin Harper, Maureen Macmillan, Pauline McNeill, Nora Radcliffe, Iain Smith, Shiona Baird, Ms Rosemary Byrne, Patrick Harvie, Kate Maclean, Eleanor Scott, Tommy Sheridan, Mr Adam Ingram, Cathy Peattie, Chris Ballance, Mike Pringle, Linda Fabiani, Rosie Kane.
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