Jamie Greene MSP on new nuclear power for North Ayrshire

But stubbornness for its own sake is even riskier. When the evidence changes, or when circumstances evolve, changing your mind is reasonable and necessary.

We’ve seen this before at Holyrood. During the passage of same-sex marriage legislation, many people reflected, listened, and changed their views.

We’re seeing something similar now with complex moral and ethical issues, such as assisted dying, which is currently being debated following proposals brought forward by my colleague Liam McArthur.

These are not easy questions, but they show Scottish politics is capable of thoughtful consideration.

The Scottish Liberal Democrats have recently demonstrated our willingness to reassess the evidence on another crucial issue: nuclear energy.

Our party had opposed new nuclear power generation in Scotland.

But technology does not stand still. Having looked carefully at the advances in modern, small modular nuclear reactors, we have concluded that they can and should play a role in Scotland’s future energy mix.

I recently took part in a discussion at our Spring party conference hosted by the Nuclear Industry Association, alongside our Liberal Democrat candidate for Caithness, Sutherland and Ross, David Green, who also has a former nuclear site in his area at Dounreay.

What we heard was compelling: modern nuclear can be clean, efficient, safe, and complement renewables rather than compete with them.

That balance matters, and it matters locally. North Ayrshire has a proud energy heritage, particularly with Hunterston A and B. This new technology could mean highly skilled, well-paid jobs for local people, and wider economic benefits coming back to the community. From apprenticeships and training to attracting investment and specialist supply chains.

I’ve been a supporter of Hunterston since being elected in 2016. I’m dismayed that none of the nuclear jobs we’ve seen created in England are coming to Scotland. A small reactor at Hunterston is extremely doable and would not look, feel, or cost anything like the huge buildings of the 60s and 70s.

Generating more power in a clean and reliable way would also help bring down energy bills and strengthen the UK’s energy security. The importance of that has been thrown into sharp focus by Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, which exposed just how vulnerable countries can be when they rely too heavily on imported energy.

A sensible energy strategy means a balanced mix: offshore and onshore wind, solar, tidal, and modern nuclear working together.

Yet the Scottish Government remains opposed to nuclear power, using its powers of planning to block progress and insisting that renewables alone can keep the lights on. I believe that is short-sighted.

I understand how difficult changing your mind can be. I wrestled with that reality myself when I left the Scottish Conservatives to join the Liberal Democrats.

But when the evidence points one way, and when there is a clear moral and economic case, it’s always worth having the courage to follow it.