Scotland could get large nuclear reactor under Tories, says shadow energy secretary

Conservatives vow to change the law to override SNP ban on new nuclear

The Scotsman, By Andrew J Quinn, Westminster Correspondent, 5th Oct 2026,

cotland could get a large nuclear reactor under the Tories, the shadow energy secretary has said.

Andrew Bowie told the Conservative Party Conference that “no part of Britain will be off limits” when building a third large-scale reactor in the UK.

The Aberdeenshire West and Kincardine MP vowed to change the law to override the SNP’s ban on new nuclear.

He told the conference in Birmingham: “We will need a third large-scale reactor. We will build that reactor, and no part of Britain will be off limits, including Scotland.

“We will legislate to get it done. No more Mr Nice Guy. No more devolve and forget.

“Energy is a reserved power of the sovereign Parliament of our United Kingdom, and I am fed up with the SNP playing games with devolved planning policy to block our nuclear renewal.

“So we will legislate to ensure new nuclear can and will be built in Scotland, and if the Nationalists want to stop us from delivering thousands of jobs, economic growth, and energy security for Britain, I’ve one thing to say: bring it on.”

The UK government wants to build small nuclear reactors in Scotland. But the SNP, which holds control over planning, has so far blocked it.

Torness in East Lothian, Hunterston in Ayrshire, and Dounreay in Caithness have all been cited as potential sites.

But the prospect of a new large nuclear reactor north of the Border has not been seriously considered before.

Hinkley C in Suffolk and Sizewell C in Somerset are two large nuclear power stations which are being built in the UK.

Torness is Scotland’s last remaining active nuclear power plant. The facility is scheduled to close by 2030.

Hunterston A in North Ayrshire shut down in 1990, while Hunterston B shut down in 2022.

Mr Bowie said: “We once led the world in nuclear power, and we can do so again, ensuring that Britain will always have reliable, plentiful electricity. Cheap energy drove the industrial revolution. Abundant nuclear power will drive Britain’s renewal.

“We will supercharge the rollout of new nuclear in Britain. We will deliver at pace and go further. Where there’s a block, we will break it down. Where there’s red tape in the way we will cut it full steam ahead.

“We’ll invest in small modular, advanced modular reactors and open this country to the newest and most exciting technology in the world.

“But to ensure stability and reliability, we need further large-scale reactors, a gigawatt-scale reactor, standing along Hinkley and Sizewell.

“Now, when I was nuclear minister, I was delighted and proud to be able to announce existing new developments that would create jobs and boost Britain’s energy security across the country, from Wales to the southwest, Hartlepool to East Anglia………………………………….. https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/scotland-could-get-large-nuclear-reactor-under-tories-says-shadow-energy-secretary-9266799