First Minister Alex Salmond has been challenged to "act in the best interest of the Scottish People" and re-examine his "misguided" energy policy.

Speaking in response to the announced closure of the Vestas factory in Campbeltown with the loss of 92 jobs, Glasgow North West MP John Robertson said the First Minister must make saving the jobs associated with the factory his priority.

An emergency meeting was held at Argyll and Bute Council’s headquarters on Monday and a further meeting with Energy Minister and Argyll and Bute MSP Jim Mather is scheduled to take place on Friday after the factory’s Danish owners announced last week that the factory is to relocate to the Isle of Wight.

-- Advertisement --

Robertson said the closure of the wind turbine manufacturing plant was "another set back to the SNP’s grand energy delusion" and called on the First Minister to reconsider his "obsession and hatred of nuclear energy".

The SNP Government has pledged not to allow any new nuclear power stations to be built in Scotland and has set a target to generate 50% of Scotland’s electricity from renewables by 2020.

However, Robertson said: "It is time the First Minister faced the reality and the need to protect the security of energy supply. Above all else it is time to stop the rhetoric and recognise that it is vital for Scotland to pursue a truly balanced energy policy. Developing wind, wave, clean coal and carbon capture and storage are central to this but it is becoming increasingly clear that only nuclear can provide the base load this nation demands."

"The wheels are coming off the First Minister’s energy bandwagon and unless he faces reality it is the people of Scotland who will pay the heavy price for his obsession and hatred of nuclear energy."

(GK/NS)