SNP donor 'has uranium interests'

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The Scottish National Party has sparked criticism by agreeing to accept a large donation from a businessman whose interests include uranium mining.

Ian Watson, chairman of Galahad Gold, said he would donate up to £50,000 - matching cash raised by activists during the party's conference in Perth.

Uranium is most commonly used in the nuclear power industry, which the SNP strongly opposes.

The Scottish Greens said the SNP was "unwise" to accept the cash.

A Scottish Labour spokesman said: "This is an embarrassment for Alex Salmond.

"We always knew how opportunist the SNP were. This just shows how desperate they are."

Precious metals

However, the SNP said there was no conflict between its anti-nuclear stance and the acceptance of the donation.

The party is opposed to new nuclear power stations and wants the Trident nuclear submarines to be scrapped.

An SNP spokesman said: "The SNP is proudly anti-nuclear. Our position is clear."

Mr Watson's company Galahad Gold has stakes in firms which mine precious metals such as gold.

The party will have its own views to the merits of nuclear power and I certainly have mine Ian Watson

However, it also has a stake in UraMin Inc, which has a portfolio of uranium development projects in Namibia and South Africa and exploration projects in Botswana, Mozambique and Chad.

The most common use of uranium is as a raw material in nuclear reactors.

It is also used as a target for X-ray production and as ammunition for some types of military weaponry.

Mr Watson, who was born in Glasgow and lived in Canada for many years, said: "The party will have its own views to the merits of nuclear power and I certainly have mine.

"But that does not stop me from supporting the SNP who I think can rejuvenate the economic climate in Scotland."

He said he hoped his new party would be tolerant of his opinion on nuclear power.

The donation comes days after the SNP received £100,000 from businessman Sir Tom Farmer.

The multi-millionaire Kwik-Fit founder said he wanted the nationalists to be able to compete with the resources of their better-funded political opponents.