Tuesday, October 04, 2005

Labour's atomic tactics in Scotland

The Sunday Herald has a striking story:

A senior adviser to the Prime Minister told Labour officials at a secret meeting at the Scottish Executive headquarters that building a new nuclear power station at Dounreay would be the ideal way of undermining their Liberal Democrat coalition colleagues.

John McTernan – Tony Blair’s director of political operations – suggested the move as part of an orchestrated Labour attack on the LibDems in the run-up to the 2007 Holyrood elections.

He said the plan would boost the chances of First Minister Jack McConnell’s party winning Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, the seat that is home to Dounreay and which is held by the LibDems.

It is some years since I was a candidate or agent - and that only at district council level - but I suspect Labour will run into trouble on election expenses if they try this. My researches suggest the last nuclear power station built in Britain (Sizewell B) cost around £2 billion.

I can't help thinking they would be on surer ground if they just had some leaflets printed.

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