AN SNP official has hit out at the Scottish Government’s current position on AI data centres – branding it “undemocratic” and "politically questionable".
Bill Ramsay, who is the convener of the SNP Trade Union Group (TUG), highlighted how the party’s national council voted to support a moratorium on hyperscale data centres earlier this year.
But – in the face of mounting pressure from MSPs and campaigners – the SNP leadership haven’t followed suit.
Ramsay told The National that the First Minister, as well as other SNP ministers, were present in the room earlier this year when the party’s national council voted through a motion calling for a moratorium.
“The motion was passed rather uncontroversially. There were no speakers against, if I recall, so the question is – what has happened between then and now?”
In August, the Scottish Government announced planning authorities would be required to notify ministers of data centre applications within seven days of validation.
The new direction applies to data centre developments exceeding 50 megawatts (MW) of power capacity and will support strategic monitoring of the pipeline of such planning applications and of the implications for wider infrastructure.
But Swinney has stopped short of calling for a full moratorium on new developments.
“We don't have a rationale as to why they have changed their mind this time,” Ramsay told The National.
“And that's rather undemocratic. I mean, it's politically questionable as well, given the fact that we've just lost two by-elections.”
The SNP lost two Edinburgh council seats after being beaten by the Scottish Greens and Labour in separate results announced on Friday.
In the Craigmillar/Portobello contest, Scottish Greens candidate Lorenzo Martinico topped the poll ahead of SNP candidate Silas McGilvray.
In the Southside/Newington ward, meanwhile, Labour’s Ruth Elliott won, while the Scottish Greens’ Isabella Gastel Alejandre was second and the SNP’s Sam Alexander Mackenzie finished third.
Ramsay went on to stress how the issue of data centres could come to hurt the party in the forthcoming local elections. “The issue of these centres is going to be a big one in multiple localities throughout Scotland and the Scottish local government elections next year,” he said.
This will not help the SNP councilors who are standing for election. People right across the board are very exercised by this issue. I've not seen an upsurge of such widespread, widespread discontent on an issue for many years .”
Public finance minister Hannah Mary Goodlad said: “I have directed that planning authorities be required to notify ministers of new data centre applications exceeding 50 megawatts within seven days to help monitor their implications for wider infrastructure.
“Data centres represent a rapidly emerging sector and planning has an important role to play in considering applications, harnessing economic opportunities, and finding solutions which align with our climate goals.
“We must balance the economic and employment interests in developing data centres with national energy, climate and community wealth building ambitions, which are vital to our future prosperity, as well as the potential impact on local communities.
“It is essential to secure public benefits from this type of development, and I am clear that voices of communities that will be affected will be central to any considerations on data centres.”
The SNP have also been approached for comment.
