By Professor John Robertson
STV News has just reported:
The UK Government is considering plans to build a nuclear reactor in Scotland, despite long-standing opposition from the Scottish Government.
Scottish secretary Alister Jack has told a Westminster committee that he has asked ministers at the Department for Energy and Net Zero to plan for a nuclear reactor to be built in Scotland, as part of a UK-wide programme.
He also said he expected a “Unionist regime” to be in power in Scotland by 2026.
Responsibility for energy is reserved to Westminster, but the Scottish Parliament has control over planning and environmental regulations, and the SNP has previously said it would block any moves to build new nuclear reactors in Scotland.
The following evidence is, of course, not mentioned:
In Scotland:
In 2021, the rate, or risk, of new cancers also increased to 644 per 100,000 [around 700 for men and 600 for women (an increase of 3.1% compared with 2019).
In England, in 2020, the rate for men was 590 and for women, 487.
These are significant differences.
There are several explanatory factors including smoking (England lowest 13%, Scotland next at 13.9%, N Ireland at 14% and Wales at 14.1%) and better NHS detection services but you have to wonder about the Sellafield reprocessing plant, the most toxic nuclear plant in Europe, seeping pollutants around our coast for 70 years now, the nuclear submarines in the Clyde and munitions on the roads and rail, the waste travelling to Sellafield, the rotting nuclear hulks in Rosyth, as well as the power stations, only recently shut down.
Sources:
Most official research into the health effects of living near Hunterston A and B has found, according to the researchers, no significant risks and, in particular no evidence of unusual levels of cancers.
For example, research by Aberdeen University in 1999 did find that more tumours (14%) of the nervous system were observed than expected within 25km of Hunterston but this was considered to be not statistically significant.[vii]
However, in 1987 the British Medical Journal reported on childhood leukaemia in West Berkshire and North Hampshire, within 10km of the Atomic Weapons Research Establishment at Aldermaston and the nearby Royal Ordnance factory, finding 29 cases among 0–4-year-olds when only 14.4 were expected based on national levels and 41 cases among 0–14-year-olds when only 28.6 were expected. [viii]
Then, in 1989, research by Southampton General Hospital found that the suggestion of raised cancer levels among young people around the Sellafield ‘has been supported by the findings’ [ix]. Contaminated effluent from the Sellafield reprocessing plant in Cumbria, described as ‘Europe’s most hazardous nuclear site’ [x], is carried by prevailing currents around the Ayrshire coast only a few miles away.
Much more dramatic, in 2002, the Guardian reported cancer rates in parts of Somerset, 5 miles downwind of the Hinkley Point plant, up to 6 times higher than the national average. [xi]
Then, in 2015, peer-reviewed research found breast cancer risks at up to 6 times higher than average around nuclear power stations in Wales and England. [xii]
The same researchers looked at breast cancer risk in Essex and found higher rates in disadvantaged areas than more affluent areas, near Bradwell power station.
Returning to the ‘official data’ recording levels of radioactivity in sediment, in soil or in life-forms, none can seriously doubt the accuracy of these but what we can legitimately do is question the safety of these levels of contamination. We can do this because they vary from country to country and over time so, by definition, are subjectively based, often influenced by economic priorities. The safe level for radioactivity in food in the EU is currently 370Bq/Kg for infants and for other foodstuff, it is 600. [xiii] In the UK, post Chernobyl it was 1 000 [xiv] and across the EU including Britain, post Fukushima for Japanese imports, it was 100 for general foods and 50 for infant products.[xv]
We have seen historically the scientific community fail to protect the public from the devastating effects of tobacco, asbestos, Thalidomide and, more recently, Primodos. The nuclear industry and the associated weapons development is an enormously powerful political and economic force. Scientists working in research centres and universities funded by government grants face powerful inhibitory pressures when it comes to doing any research that might undermine them. A powerful cultural predisposition against finding evidence of harm, against questioning the setting of ‘safe’ levels of exposure, overwhelms all but a very few and the latter do not last long.
The voters in Ayrshire and across Scotland need to think about this before voting Labour.
[i] https://www.gmb.org.uk/networks/politics/winning-for-working-people
[ii] https://www.gmb.org.uk/campaigns/voteyes/
[iii] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hunterston_A_nuclear_power_station
[iv] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hunterston_B_nuclear_power_station
[v] https://www.robedwards.com/2009/09/revealed-radioactive-waste-leak-from-hunterston.html
[vi] https://www.ayradvertiser.com/news/15546135.concern-at-nuclear-waste-on-south-ayrshire-railways/
[vii] https://www.jstor.org/stable/27731111
[viii] https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:EU:2936bac7-ec76-4120-a9af-0a1825b41a65
[ix] https://www.jstor.org/stable/2983129
[x] https://www.theguardian.com/business/2023/dec/05/sellafield-nuclear-site-leak-could-pose-risk-to-public#:~:text=Sellafield%2C%20Europe’s%20most%20hazardous%20nuclear,public%2C%20the%20Guardian%20can%20reveal.
[xi] https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2002/jul/14/greenpolitics.science
[xii]https://www.academia.edu/95797729/Breast_Cancer_Mortality_in_Estuary_Wards_near_Bradwell_Nuclear_Power_Station_Essex_UK_2001_1995?uc-sb-sw=83553679
[xiii] https://measurlabs.com/blog/eu-regulations-on-food-contaminants/#:~:text=Most%20meat%20products%2C%20fats%2C%20and,3%20mg%2Fkg%20in%20supplements.
[xiv] https://www.reading.ac.uk/foodlaw/news/uk-09047.htm
[xv] https://www.pref.fukushima.lg.jp/site/portal-english/en01-03.html
Talking-up Scotland 
Obviously creating as much havoc before he finally throws in the towel and takes his place on the red bench.
He’ll be do disappointed if he’s passed by this time.
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Sounds like Jack is about to “easily” defect to the new Tory Labour Party where Starmerfuhrer will welcome him with a quick sieg heil and get down to the business of getting rid, once and for all, of us “extremist” nasty nationalists, privatise the nhs, bring back student fees, make those damn Scottish pensioners pay for buses, get rid of all opposition to the elite Westminster command, get those scrounging Scot’s to pay for there prescriptions (even if some of their illnesses are caused by nuclear waste), rename it North Of Britain Subservients or “NOBS” for short, give them all flat caps to doff when their lords and masters pass by, further reduce any monies “given” to them, take all the money from their rich resources, which are now under control, once and for all, of the crown and Southern Britain, which will proudly keep her name Engerland……….and let those “extremist” northerners eat mud!!! Well we can have all of this if we vote Labour, and wallow in the self pity of what could have been…………ME? I am voting SNP…voting for INDEPENDENCE and giving my children and ALL of the children of Scotland a FUTURE free from mental repression and nuclear toxic poison from Westminster and there branch manager!!!
JB
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Quelle surprise, Lord merde of FFoulkesake after months of rehearsal and preparation for a brief period of sobriety delivers his lines to incoming Lord merde of FeckoffJack which is circulated via STV as El Suito’s trust levels are below either player in these theatrics… https://archive.ph/u2fnF
Anybody else remember “No pasaran” ? It’s not planning consent which scuppered General Pinochet’s plans, and the same will befall Governor General Pinnoccio and his sozzled stooge…
With typical OTT theatrics, ” Jack appeared on Wednesday morning before the Lords Constitution Committee, and was being questioned by Labour peer Lord Foulkes, who said “everyone around Torness” – currently Scotland’s only nuclear power plant – “is keen to see a new Torness” – Do please note the direct quotes versus the fillets !
I’d venture ‘everyone around Torness’ is keen to see full employment prospects return following Thatcher’s visitation, but at least the chippy and burger van will still be doing a good trade in 200 years time feeding the grandchildren of the original local security guards as it’s decommissioning continues…
What slayed me was the total bullshit from Jack over SMR’s with ” Six companies are in the early stages of procurement to deliver the technology ” – For ‘early stages’ read they’ve no friggin idea, as NOBODY has done this on commercial scale – Period.
Gauletier Jack will be welcomed in the Lords for sure, and many a sigh of relief will be heard from ‘everyone’ in D&G….
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Is this what Jack means will happen in 2026 when says Regime
a government, especially one that has not been elected in a fair waya fascist/totalitarian/military, etc. regimean oppressive/brutal regime
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Here it is.
https://x.com/poloandsons/status/1790715371948740660
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QT from Aberdeen tonight I wonder how many times the Tory chair will interrupt the SNP and I am sure Sunak and Jacko will be talked about interesting maybe.
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Thursday
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ANY POLITICAL PARTY THAT KNOW THEY WILL NOT BE IN POWER IN SCOTLAND AFTER NEXT ELECTION
SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO DECIDE ANY POLICES THAT WILL AFFECT SCOTLANDS FUTURE SAFETY
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Is this an example of what’s termed, a trolling fanny?
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He would have more chance of success if he advertised French Knickers for M&S.
This buffoon is so out of touch with reality.
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O/T BBC Radio 4’s Today programme had a long interview this morning with ex PM Gordon Brown. It focused on his latest published views on addressing child poverty in the UK.
In his pitch, he talked about how bad things have become and how damaging Tory welfare policies and Universal Credit are proving to be. To emphasise his contention about how dire things are, he chose to refer to his own observations in his former parliamentary constituency.
Despite (supposedly) being a supporter of devolving more power away from Westminster – with the implication that different centres of political power may come to do things differently and achieve different, sometimes better outcomes – Mr Brown in his interview – and in his paper as I understand it – opts to makes no mention of difference within the UK. Could that be because it is an SNP government that is making a positive difference?
Mr Brown made no acknowledgement of the following: (a) the better statistics regarding child poverty in Scotland relative to other parts of the UK – even if still at too high a level; (ii) the unique, beneficial Scottish Child Payment which his own former constituents have access to, something not available to families even in Labour-run Wales; and (iii) that his former constituents live within Scotland where the government has intervened to mitigate the harms of the Westminster’s welfare policies like the two child cap.
The Today programme interviewer obviously didn’t ask Mr Brown about any of these facts pertaining to Scotland even as he sought to use a Fife constituency to exemplify his contentions about matters UK-wide.
Scotland is destined to be tarred with one negative UK brush again and again by Labour and other Unionist politicians in the media regardless of what good a pro-Indy government in Holyrood achieves.
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I think there is an element of trolling independence supporting Scots – basically 1 in every 2 adults – but then again they’ve just bracketed us alongside Putin et al. No reference that I could see to the waste produced which will remain a radioactive threat for thousands of years nor mention of issues with the technology around small reactors or cost. Or the fact that Scotland already produces more electricity than it requires and exports to England. England appears unable to support itself or elect a government that will enable it to do that. This is our union dividend.
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a Lords committee—hahaha.
Lard Baron Ffoulksakia of Cumnoccio.
Lord Joke McCoalbunker.
Lord Firestarter.
Lord Generalissimo Jackboots.
and so on. Too High and Michty to walk—so they all slither.
And wee nuke plants. NuScale were forced to abandon small modular reactors in Utah, just a few months ago, as they were too expensive to attract customers.
They want to force Scotland to have one, to justify overcharging Scots for electricity when we produce some of the cheapest power in Europe.
And guess where they will want to dump the nuclear waste?
hint—it won’t be the deep clay deposits of southern England—-the best place to have a nuke depository.
gavinochiltree
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Another reason people in Scotland should vote SNP , all this faffing about arguing amongst themselves about other issues and ALBA is ignoring the realities such as nutjobs like him telling us we will have a nuclear power station in Scotland even though we dont want one and dont need one.
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Jack will be gone soon.
Westminster Gov spends £13Billion a year decommissioning nuclear. Over ten years. £130Billion. Increasing all the time. Flying waste all over the world. Where will it be dumped?
The Tory unionists are beyond ridiculous. From Austerity to Brexit. A total waste of time and monies.
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Dounreay nuke plant as we know is being decommissioned, (demolished as reported at ‘Insider daily’) but workers are again set to go on strike. We can be sure the English UK ‘government’ will not do a deal they will accept in any hurry whatsoever.
I wonder how it’s being reported if at all? I suspect most of the workers are contracted from England. Anyone seen any reports about that at all?
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Since there is no economic case nor social need for nuclear power stations in Scotland,the question must be asked,why is England’s government determined to foist this upon us?
The political direction of travel since 2014 has been to use the referendum result in order to eradicate Scottish identity and anything which marks us as different from England.
England’s needs determine policies in Scotland.
No more pretence of union let alone equal partnership.
As their Governor General has said in the past,Scots will just have to suck it up.
Can’t see that as being a sustainable position for too long.
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