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 the Press Association at a campaign visit in West Calder on Tuesday, the First Minister said: “I’ve no explanation from the United Kingdom Government about their decision to refuse £1.5 billion of investment in renewable energy manufacturing and capability in Scotland, other than the explanation it is about national security.
“I have no more detailed understanding than that simple statement from the UK Government.
“And I think that is unacceptable because there is Chinese investment, Chinese development being embraced and welcomed in other parts of the United Kingdom – there’s a Chinese super embassy going to be built in the heart of the city of London.
“And I just cannot understand and fathom the decision of the United Kingdom Government, which is supposed to be interested in developing manufacturing capability in the United Kingdom, to block an investment of £1.5 billion which could support and sustain the development of manufacturing capability in Scotland.”
