Claims the UK Government blocked a £1.5 billion wind turbine factory in the Scottish Highlands for political reasons have been dismissed as “crankery” by Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar.
Ministers announced the move just hours after MSPs had completed their final day at Holyrood ahead of the May 7 election, citing security concerns over the firm behind the bid – Chinese company Ming Yang.
Since, senior echelons of the SNP have speculated publicly why the decision was made, with First Minister John Swinney saying during a televised debate on Sunday the move was “anti-Scottish”.
But speaking to BBC Radio Scotland on Tuesday, Mr Sarwar dismissed the claims.
The First Minister – who appeared on BBC Radio 4 earlier in the day and was questioned on the decision – peddled a “pretty strange conspiracy theory”, Mr Sarwar said.
“I can give you a cast-iron guarantee, I will not do crankery or conspiracy theory as first minister,” he said.
“I will always accept national security advice, because our first duty as a government would be to protect the great citizens of this country.”
Asked if it was strange that Chinese investment was allowed in other UK projects, Mr Sarwar said: “All these projects will have national security briefings.
“A national security briefing was received that said there was a national security risk for investment.
“Are we honestly saying that a first minister would reject national security advice? I can tell you quite categorically, if a national security briefing comes to me, I will not ignore it, because I will put the national interest before political interest.”
He went on to say suggestions the security services may have taken a “deliberate do Scotland down approach” was the “height of conspiracy theory”.
Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Mr Swinney pushed for more information about why the facility at the Port of Ardersier was rejected.
“I want Scotland’s power in Scotland’s hands and I want there to be a manufacturing benefit from the generation of renewable energy in Scotland coming to people in Scotland with the development of the manufacturing capacity to develop the infrastructure that’s required,” he said.
“Of course, what I don’t have from the UK Government is an explanation of why they have blocked the development of that manufacturing capability by the Chinese company Ming Yang.”
He added that the “sum total” of his knowledge of the reason for the decision was security concerns, adding: “What I want to understand from the UK Government is why on earth they’ve taken the decision that’s been taken?
“Because there’s been no transparent explanation to me.”