LABOUR'S Allan Wilson and the SNP's Kenneth Gibson have this week clashed over the issue of Scotland's future electricity generation after Hunterston B power station was mentioned in the BBC's Leaders Debate on Sunday night.

In a discussion about the SNP's plans to meet 100 per cent of Scotland's electricity needs through renewables by 2020, First Minister Alex Salmond said: "In 2020, Hunterston B will be closed but Torness will still be open and Longannet will still be producing electricity - hopefully as much as possible in carbon capture." Labour's manifesto on the issue states: "Scotland is uniquely placed to reap the environmental and economic benefits of renewable energy generation and we will therefore aim for at least 80 per cent of our electricity to come from renewable by 2020. We will set up Energy Scotland to drive forward Scotland as a renewable world leader." Reportedly reacting "with fury" to the SNP leader's comments, Labour candidate Allan Wilson said: "The SNP have let the cat out of the bag and confirmed that they are threatening 700 jobs in our part of Ayrshire. The SNP has sacked the workforce at Hunterston live on television. People will be furious at this latest snub to the people who work at the plant." Describing Mr Wilson's reaction as "his latest hysterical outburst", SNP candidate Mr Gibson said: "Mr Wilson knows fine well that the SNP do not plan to close Hunterston. If so, in 2007 we would not have supported an extension of its life from 2011 to 2016, a move I publicly welcomed.

"The current scheduled closure date is 2016 and the First Minister was merely reflecting that, whereas for Torness it is 2023. If EDF wish to extend the life of Hunterston and the inspectorate agree the SNP will support that." For the full story see this week's Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald.