David Cairns, the deputy Scottish Secretary, was embroiled in a row with the SNP last night after he talked up the potential of nuclear power to contribute to Scotland's energy needs while helping to combat climate change.

At a fringe meeting at the conference, the MP for Inverclyde said: "While renewable energy sources can and will continue to make a significant contribution as technology develops, with variable output they are not a panacea.

"Nuclear power has the potential to provide a secure and consistent carbon-free source of electricity which should not be ruled out on purely ideological grounds."

Mr Cairns went on: "My real fear is that Scotland's energy and economic needs are being jeopardised by the SNP's dogmatic opposition to nuclear power.

"If they want to be taken seriously as an administration, they need to be prepared to take the tough decisions that all governments face and take an objective view rather than relying on blinkered dogma."

Labour pointed out how the minister's comments followed those of Peter Hughes, chief executive of Scottish Engineering, who reportedly told John Swinney, the minister responsible for energy: "When something like half of the electricity of Scotland is produced by nuclear power, you dump nuclear at your peril.

"The First Minister has said nuclear is not on the horizon. Well, I am sorry, it is back on the agenda."

Last night the Nationalists hit back, claiming Mr Cairns had made a "nuclear blunder".

Alex Neil, the SNP MSP, has written to Wendy Alexander, the Labour leader in the Scottish Parliament, asking who sets her party's nuclear power policy in Scotland.

He pointed out how, on the one hand, Mr Cairns was pro-nuclear while, on the other, Sarah Boyack, Labour's environment spokeswoman at Holyrood, was anti-nuclear.

Referring to how Ms Boyack had tabled two anti-nuclear motions in the last Scottish Parliament, Mr Neil said Mr Cairns was "now setting nuclear power policy for Labour in Scotland, even though planning is devolved", and added that his remarks had exposed "the splits and divisions not just in his party but in Wendy Alexander's Shadow Cabinet".

Mr Neil noted how, in the light of Scotland's vast green energy potential, a clear majority of MSPs opposed new nuclear power in Scotland - including Ms Boyack.

"The question for Wendy Alexander now is: who sets Labour's policy north of the border - her or David Cairns? Is it Scotland or London?" he said.

Mr Neil added that if it were Mr Cairns who was calling the shots on Labour's policy on nuclear power, Ms Boyack "cannot remain a member of Wendy Alexander's Shadow Cabinet".