NICOL Stephen, the leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats, will today use his party's conference to launch a scathing attack on the profits of energy firms, describing them as "obscene".
He will lambast the national grid for its efforts to block energy-saving devices, and champion renewable energy firms.
Mr Stephen will also announce plans to recall the Steel Commission, chaired by Sir David Steel, to refine the Lib Dems' constitu
tional position.
He will define his party as the champion of personal freedoms, and attack the calls from other parties for a blanket retention of DNA.
It is expected that his most cutting remarks will be reserved for power firms and the national grid – this month fined a record amount for blocking customers' access to technology.
"Isn't irony rich when the national grid, the organisation that should be creating the new super grid, gets fined £42 million this week," it is believed he will say.
"Not for cutting corners to do things faster but for deliberately blocking new technologies like smart meters that can reduce energy costs for every household. That is obscene.
"If they won't help consumers save money, I want them fined more.
"It is obscene that when power prices go up six times the rate of inflation, the power companies profits go up 500 per cent. The companies that should be making big profits are the renewable energy companies."
Mr Stephen also spoke out on his party's plans for renewables in a speech to Airtricity Energy at a conference fringe event yesterday.
He said: "Our bold, ambitious target of 100 per cent of Scotland's electricity to come from renewables is achievable and urgent but it must only be the start.
"We must have new green energy targets that tackle our huge transport and heating costs which make up a huge proportion of Scotland's energy needs with credible green alternatives to our utter dependence on petrol and gas."
He added: "Perhaps the largest, quickest gains of all can be on energy efficiency. Driving forward dramatically higher standards in Scotland's buildings, meters that tell us the actual value of gas and electricity we use in our homes, and finding ways to save billions of pounds from the huge energy costs of industry."
He will also tackle civil liberties and surveillance issues, such as DNA retention and ID cards, and claim the party's approach will be founded on "a fundamental principle of the rights of the individual, central to the freedoms and liberties that many have fought and died for".
He is also to attack proposals, mooted in Westminster this week, to introduce blanket retention of DNA for those suspected of a criminal offence, regardless of if they are convicted.
He will denounce the plans as "a new threat to our civil liberties".
He is expected – predictably – to spend much of his time stressing the importance of individual freedoms. It is believed he will say: "We have a choice between small dreams and a big party.
"I say we choose a bigger party and a bigger role in Scotland.
"To champion the individual, to help and equip every individual with the skills to reach their full potential with strong committees capable of coming together to give all those people the opportunity and freedoms and choices."
He will also announce plans to recall the Steel Commission to fine-tune the demands the Lib Dems should be bringing to the constitutional commission.
He will say: "This new great challenge needs leadership and direction, not distraction and I have decided to recall the Steel Commission. It will create some real pressure and momentum for change and most important of all it will make the wishes of the people of Scotland be realised."
However, yesterday he insisted he would not give up any powers to Westminster and criticised comments from the Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, that the Holyrood-sanctioned commission on Scotland's constitutional future could be a "two-way street". But Mr Stephen insisted he would not walk away from the commission.
The group, voted for by MSPs, came about after the Scottish Government launched its national conversation on Scottish independence.
HOW TO BAG A SCOT'S CASH• THE menace of plastic bags was a big issue at the Lib Dem conference – it has grabbed the headlines this week, but has been on the party's radar for a long time.
And the party decided to give delegates a helping hand to put their money where there mouths were – not that much money though.
Sustainable bags for life were available – in a fetching yellow with the party logo emblazoned.
But the unique selling point? They were on sale at half the price they will be at the UK conference.
"We're canny Scots," admitted Aberdeenshire councillor Deborah Storey.
• At their first conference in Scotland since losing power, the Lib Dems were clearly anticipating a low turn-out.
One-third of the seats in the main auditorium were cloaked in particularly sombre black sheets – presumably in an effort to disguise the empty pews when leader Nick Clegg gave his first address north of the Border as leader.
• Posters advertising the Lib Dem conference were limited at the Highland Resort in Aviemore – perhaps something to do with the excess packaging the party is so opposed to.
However, not all political parties take such an abstemious approach to self-promotion.
It was noted the night before kick-off, near the Four Seasons Hotel at the complex – where some visitors are staying – there was a rather large advertising trailer for the Scottish National Party.
