Business
Swinney has ‘bottled it’ on nuclear, Starmer says as he urges SNP to end ban
The Prime Minister has urged John Swinney to end the ban on nuclear energy in Scotland after announcing the UK’s first small modular reactor in Wales.
Sir Keir Starmer said the SNP had “bottled it” on nuclear which has caused jobs to “vanish”.
Anas Sarwar, the Scottish Labour leader, accused the First Minister of “student politics”. He has promised to end the ban if he becomes first minister after the 2026 Holyrood election.
He said the Scottish Government’s no-nuclear policy is costing the country thousands of jobs and billions in investment.
The Scottish Government has consistently been against the creation of new nuclear power stations north of the border, with control of planning laws giving ministers an effective veto.
Mr Sarwar joined Sir Keir in calling for the SNP to change the policy.
Sir Keir said: “For years, the Tory government in Westminster and the SNP government in Scotland bottled it on nuclear.
“They talked big, delivered little, and left the country exposed. It’s our communities that have paid the price for that, watching as jobs vanish and ambition withers.
“John Swinney’s knackered SNP government has failed. They’ve banned nuclear in Scotland and the opportunities it brings.
“Instead, they consume themselves with yesterday’s arguments on independence.”
The Labour leader said Britain was “entering a new age of nuclear power” which he said would deliver well-paid jobs that will put “pride back in our towns”.
He went on: “Two Labour governments are working together in Wales to deliver on that promise. And with Anas Sarwar, Scotland has the chance for a new direction.
“It’s time to reclaim our heritage, outpace the world, and prove that when it comes to nuclear, Britain doesn’t just remember its past – we’re ready to own the future.”
SNP ministers have raised concerns about the cost of projects, how long it will take to build them, and potential safety issues around waste.
But Mr Sarwar said “SNP incompetence” meant Scotland would lose jobs and investment from nuclear.
He said: “For too long, the SNP’s student politics opposition to new nuclear energy has held Scotland back.
“Scotland is full of potential for new nuclear projects – with thousands of jobs and billions of pounds of investment there to be won.
“But while other parts of the UK are forging ahead with the jobs and investment that new nuclear brings, Scotland is being prevented from benefiting due to SNP incompetence.
“As first minister I will end the SNP’s student politics block on new nuclear power and deliver the jobs and the clean energy Scotland needs and deserves.
“It’s time to turn the page on SNP failure and chart a new direction for Scotland.”
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said a Scottish Labour government would invite nuclear bosses to Scotland on the first day of a Labour administration at Holyrood in a push for new reactors.
The UK Government has been pushing for new projects in a drive for greater energy security and the move away from fossil fuels
Responding to the comments, Paul McLennan MSP said: “Keir Starmer is fighting desperately to cling on to power, and Anas Sarwar is leading his party to third place.
“If they think the answer to their unpopularity is to force expensive, unnecessary nuclear power stations on Scotland they are in for a surprise.
“Expensive new nuclear power stations will push bills up even higher, take years to build and leave us dealing with dangerous waste for years to come.
“Scotland doesn’t want or need new nuclear, we have an abundance of clean energy resources. What we need is the fresh start of independence, so that we can harness these resources to bring energy bills down.”
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By Sheera Frenkel, Christina Thornell, Valentina Caval, Thomas Vollkommer, Jon Hazell and June Kim
February 14, 2026
Indian Railways has reached a global milestone in freight operations, securing its position as a premier international logistics hub. Union Minister for Railways, Ashwini Vaishnaw, announced today that the national carrier has achieved an unprecedented scale in its logistics division. Highlighting this achievement, the Minister stated, “Indian Railways has become the second-largest cargo carrier in the world.”
Building on this momentum, the Ministry has prepared a rigorous roadmap for the upcoming year aimed at systemic transformation. The government plans to roll out a series of weekly initiatives to modernise every facet of rail travel and transport. Vaishnaw explained the structured timeline, saying, “For 2026, Railways has resolved to implement 52 reforms in 52 weeks.”
The initial phase of this plan will prioritise the passenger experience, with a focus on improving the quality of onboard facilities. The Minister identified the primary starting point for this year-long agenda, noting, “The first reform is better onboard services in Railways.”
In addition to passenger amenities, the government is placing strong emphasis on the “Gati Shakti” initiative to streamline the nationwide movement of goods. This strategic focus is designed to strengthen the country’s supply chain. Vaishnaw confirmed the freight sector’s priority, adding, “The second concerns ‘Gati Shakti Cargo.’”
A cornerstone of the 2026 agenda is a comprehensive overhaul of sanitation and hygiene standards. The Ministry has developed a new blueprint to ensure that the rail network’s cleanliness meets global benchmarks. Detailing the specifics of the first major initiative, the Minister remarked, “Reform number one for 2026 will ensure proper end-to-end cleaning of the Railways… The concept of a clean rail station has been established.”
This cleanliness drive is not a short-term measure but a multi-year commitment to cover the entire Indian Railways fleet. The implementation will be phased to ensure thoroughness and consistency. Vaishnaw clarified the timeline, stating, “Over three years, this reform will be implemented across all trains.”
To ensure the success of these reforms, the Ministry is introducing a robust accountability framework. These measures will include performance-based contracts and the integration of modern digital tools to monitor progress in real time. Emphasising the shift towards professional and technology-driven management, the Minister concluded, “There will be clearly defined service-level agreements… There will be extensive use of technology.”
Craft beer brand BrewDog could be sold off after the company started the process to find new investors.
The Scottish beer brand recently announced plans to close all of its distilling brands, meaning it would no longer produce any of its spirits, including Duo Rum, Abstrakt Vodka, and Lonewolf Gin, at its distillery in Ellon, Aberdeenshire.
The company, which was founded in 2007, said it made the decision to focus on its beer brands, including the highly-popular Punk IPA, Elvis Juice, and Hazy Jane.
Now, in a statement, a spokesperson for BrewDog said the company had appointed Alix Partners to “support a structured and competitive process to evaluate the next phase of investment for the business.”
The statement said: “As with many businesses operating in a challenging economic climate and facing sustained macro headwinds, we regularly review our options with a focus on the long-term strength and sustainability of the company.
“Following a year of decisive action in 2025, which saw a focus on costs and operating efficiencies, we have appointed AlixPartners to support a structured and competitive process to evaluate the next phase of investment for the business. This is a deliberate and disciplined step with a focus on strengthening the long-term future of the BrewDog brand and its operations.”
Although no decisions have been made, a sale is under consideration.
In a statment BrewDog added: “BrewDog remains a global pioneer in craft beer: a world-class consumer brand, the No.1 independent brewer in the UK, and with a highly engaged global community. We believe that this combination will attract substantial interest, though no final decisions have been made.”
According to reports by Sky News, AlixPartners had begun sounding out prospective buyers in the last few days.
The company, which has 72 bars worldwide and four breweries in Scotland, the US, Australia, and Germany, said its breweries, bars, and venues will continue to operate as normal. It employs 1400 people across the organisation.
BrewDog’s founders James Watt and Martin Dickie are the company’s major shareholders alongside private equity company TSG, which invested £213 million in 2017, making it a 21 per cent shareholder.
In 2024, the beer brand grossed £357 million in sales, and it is a major independent brewer with 4 per cent market share in the UK grocery market.
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