Graeme Downie MP used Commons questions this morning to deliver remarks on nuclear work at Rosyth, accusing SNP figures of circulating misleading claims that risk undermining skilled job opportunities in his constituency.
The Dunfermline and Dollar MP told the House he had met trade unions last week who warned that “the ideological ban on nuclear power is costing young people career opportunities for well-paid and long-term jobs” in Scotland.
He said the same anxieties were being echoed locally, where an SNP-run council had raised alarm over plans linked to submarine dismantling and the proposed contingency docking facility for the new Dreadnought-class submarines.
Downie said one councillor was spreading “misinformation” about the safety implications of the work, arguing publicly that bringing more nuclear submarines to Rosyth would require iodine tablets to be issued to “half the population of Rosyth”, a claim he insisted was both unfounded and damaging.
Addressing the Secretary of State, he said: “This pervasive and misinformed approach is holding back our country. Will the Secretary of State urge the First Minister to distance himself from the comments of the council in my constituency and welcome these jobs to Rosyth?”
Douglas Alexander, the Scottish Secretary, endorsed Downie’s warning and said he “condemned such misinformation”. He pointed to the UK Government’s £340 million investment in Rosyth’s dockyard and stressed that Scotland stands to gain apprenticeships, industrial partnerships and long-term employment if political leaders support the programme rather than cast doubt on it.
He added that during a visit to Fife earlier this week he had met local industry, educators and suppliers who were preparing for significant expansion, but argued that the Scottish Government remained hesitant to embrace defence-led economic growth.
Downie’s remarks come after recent claims by an SNP councillor suggesting that emergency planning for Dreadnought contingency docking could involve mass distribution of iodine tablets. Labour MPs have dismissed those assertions as misleading, noting that Rosyth is already a licensed nuclear site hosting seven decommissioned submarines and is being upgraded to improve resilience within the UK’s nuclear enterprise.
Come the elections in May next year, hopefully all these “issues” will go away.
Like last time ?
Perhaps Mr Downie might care to come over to Loch Long and partake of some wild swimming