First Minister John Swinney has dismissed any suggestion he is prioritising political point scoring over national security after calling for Labour ministers to reconsider a Chinese firm's plan to build a wind turbine factory in the Highlands. Ming Yang's proposed £1.5bn plant at Ardersier, near Nairn, was blocked by the UK government, citing unspecified national security concerns. Swinney said he wanted Prime Minister Andy Burnham to re-examine the scheme to see if the concerns could be overcome.
It came after UK Energy Security Minister Michael Shanks accused the first minister of making a "political intervention against the country's national security". He told BBC Radio Scotland Breakfast it was "surprising" that Swinney was calling for the Ming Yang plan to be reconsidered since he had received a national security briefing about the plan. Ming Yang has described the UK government's decision - on what would have been the UK's largest wind turbine factory - as a "significant missed opportunity", saying it could have supported up to 1,500 jobs.
Aman Wang, the company's UK chief executive, said: "We fully respect the government's duty to protect national security, and have always been clear that we will meet the requirements the UK sets." Responding to criticism from Shanks, Swinney acknowledged there were national security concerns. However, he insisted he was taking an "intensely responsible approach by asking for a further examination of whether there are opportunities to take forward that development". The first minister told the BBC that the factory would benefit everyone in Scotland and support the government's net-zero energy goals.
Asked if he was putting political point scoring ahead of national security, Swinney said he wanted the new prime minister to re-examine the proposals to ensure there was "no stone left unturned" to see if it could go ahead. Ming Yang's plan was rejected by the UK government in March after ministers said they had to ensure it was "safe and secure". The government also said the turbines from the factory would not be suitable for UK offshore wind projects and it could not support their use.
At the time, then Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes criticised "dithering" on the decision but said national security was important and must be respected. She added that it was "regrettable" the UK government had not explained its decision to Ming Yang. In April, Swinney accused the UK government of "an anti-Scottish move", adding that Labour ministers were "welcoming Chinese investment into Hinkley power station south of the border".
He has since written to Burnham, urging him to reconsider the proposal. Shanks, speaking to BBC Radio Scotland Breakfast, said he had arranged for Swinney to have a security briefing following his comments in April. He said it was therefore "surprising" that "having had that security briefing" the first minister was continuing to pursue the matter.
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