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Scotland\u2019s First Minister was \u201cirresponsible\u201d to ask Andy Burnham to reconsider controversial plans for a Chinese firm to build a wind turbine factory in the Highlands, a UK Government minister has said.<\/p>\n
Energy security minister Michael Shanks described the call from John Swinney in support of the proposed Ming Yang facility at Ardersier, near Inverness, as \u201csurprising\u201d.<\/p>\n
With the development having the potential to create up to 1,500 jobs in the area, Mr Swinney is reported to have pressed the Prime Minister to reconsider the proposal, after the UK Government previously blocked it.<\/p>\n
The Scotsman reported the SNP leader raised the issue in his first meeting with Mr Burnham, and has also written to the Prime Minister on the issue \u2013 with Ming Yang also said to have been in contact with the UK Government following the change in leadership.<\/p>\n
It comes after Mr Swinney accused the UK Government of \u201can anti-Scottish move\u201d when it stepped in to stop the facility being built amid concerns over national security.<\/p>\n
Speaking in April, he claimed \u201cScotland\u2019s renewable industry is being undermined by the actions of a Labour Government that\u2019s just turned its back on \u00a31.5 billion worth of investment\u201d at Ardersier.<\/p>\n
The SNP leader added that the UK Government was \u201cwelcoming Chinese investment into Hinkley power station south of the border\u201d, adding: \u201cIf that\u2019s not an anti-Scottish move by a Labour Government, I don\u2019t know what is.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Shanks said in the wake of those comments he had personally arranged for Mr Swinney to have a \u201csecurity briefing at the highest level\u201d on the issue.<\/p>\n
Speaking on BBC Radio Scotland\u2019s Breakfast programme on Wednesday, the UK minister said it was therefore \u201csurprising\u201d that \u201chaving had that security briefing\u201d the First Minister is continuing to pursue the matter.<\/p>\n
\u201cI do think it is surprising he is now making what feels like a political intervention,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think it is for him to answer why he is balancing what seems to be a political intervention against the country\u2019s national security.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think it is irresponsible for the First Minister to do that.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is no inherent reason why the UK Government would not want to see jobs created in the north of Scotland either, so I hope people would take it on face value when I say there are national security implications. That is a legitimate reason for us to say no to a particular investment.\u201d<\/p>\n