Labour divisions at Holyrood over nuclear power have been targeted by the SNP ahead of today's announcement that the UK Labour government is backing a new generation of power stations.

The energy battlefront between Scotland's two leading parties has heated up over recent days, with Scotland Secretary Des Browne accusing the SNP of "political immaturity" for opposing any new nuclear plants north of the border.

The SNP has pointed to the falling share of Scotland's electricity generation that comes from Torness and Hunterston power stations, while the extent of renewable generation has been rising steeply.

Scottish Labour has had problems in resolving nuclear differences within the party, with unions and most MPs keen to commit to a new generation, but splits at Holyrood.

Labour's energy spokesman at Holyrood, Lewis Macdonald, said the SNP's opposition to nuclear was "cheap political posturing", but Nationalists pointed to other members of Wendy Alexander's front-bench team who have publicly opposed a new era for nuclear, including Sarah Boyack and Pauline McNeill.