Dundee will still see the jobs benefit of a Memorandum of Understanding for the city’s port despite the fact its developer is considering quitting the agreement, Alex Salmond has claimed.
The First Minister laid the blame for the possibility of energy giants SSE walking away from the plan which SNP politicians said would generate 700 manufacturing opportunities squarely at the feet to the UK Government.
Speaking to The Courier after his appearance at Dundee University’s Five Million Questions event on Tuesday, Mr Salmond also claimed the plan suffered “a blow” when disgraced former Lib Dem Energy Secretary Chris Huhne, jailed for eight months last March after it emerged his ex-wife had taken speeding points on his behalf a decade earlier while they were married, was sacked from his post.
Mr Salmond referenced a report by accounting giants Ernst and Young which said the “attractiveness of the UK renewables market in the eyes of investors and developers has decreased dramatically”.
The First Minister added: “There is no question many investors have lost confidence in the UK Government’s energy policy and that will delay development but it (the Dundee development) will happen.”
When asked if such a delay could have been foreseen when the agreement was signed, he replied: “Remember, there have been changes in personnel in the UK Government. The Energy Secretary was Chris Huhne who, whatever else he may have done or not done, he was a strong advocate of renewable energy.”