Born in 1946 and brought up in Cupar, Fife, I was educated at the local school - THIS week has seen a real heat-wave hit Scotland – I hope everyone will treat the sun with the respect it deserves by using sun-block – and this can be seen as further evidence that global warming is taking place.
With that in mind, I was pleased when my party produced its own energy review of Scotland.
The review chairman was the widely respected Professor Stephen Salter, and the findings and recommendations that it formed are highly significant and eye-opening for Scotland. For example, Scotland produces six times more energy than we use – and we export more than ten times the oil.
Given the recent glorious weather we have been experiencing, it’s no wonder that research concludes that Scotland has one of the best climates in Europe for using solar heat in buildings.
Energy demand in Scottish buildings could be reduced by at least 30% if we adhere to the suggestions put forward by Professor Salter. While with a combination of techniques we could lead to a reduction in heat and electricity demand in industry in Scotland of at least 25%.
The SNP’s energy review points to an energy-rich Scotland powered by the sea, the sun, the wind, our land, and using fossil fuels cleanly. Renewables and clean fuel technologies can power our homes, cars and buildings. We already know that Scotland has 25% of Europe’s wind power, 10% of Europe’s wave power and 10% of Europe’s tidal power; these are Scotland’s natural resources, and we should be harnessing them to benefit Scotland’s people.
The vision set out in the review will allow Scotland to have a secure energy future, tackle climate change and create thousands of new jobs.
This is in direct opposition to Labour’s new-found love affair with nuclear power. Let’s be quite clear; every pound spent on new nuclear power stations in Scotland is a pound wasted on a dirty and dangerous fuel of the past.
Any new investment in energy in Scotland must be focused 100% on delivering community-based projects, on making the most of our carbon capture potential and maximising the huge generation capacity around our shores.
Even England wants Independence
An ICM poll has revealed the interesting fact that the English people feel that constitutional change is needed. The poll highlighted that some 31% of people in England have shown their support for an independent England, and this strikes me that there is now a real desire for a new relationship of equals between Scotland and England to be made.
We now not only have a situation where a majority in Scotland would vote for Scotland becoming independent, but a new poll showing growing and substantial support for English independence.
Given that in main Westminster and Holyrood political discussions, the 'West Lothian Question’ has raised its head again, Gordon Brown is increasingly trying to shed his Scottish identity and soul. It’s time both countries were self- governing, each having responsibility for their own resources and passing their own laws while working together in a new partnership of equals.
Clearly, this is the future. This growing support shows that the Union is past its sell-by date and independence is increasingly at the top of most people’s agenda.
