Russell Findlay will see first-hand the impact of mega pylons on the countryside when he hits the campaign trail in Angus today (Friday).
The Scottish Conservative leader, who will be joined by local candidate for Angus North and Mearns Tracey Smith, is reaffirming his party’s commitment to give local communities a veto on all major infrastructure projects.
Findlay says his proposals are in stark contrast to the plans of Labour, Reform and the SNP – which would see the “mass industrialisation” of Scotland’s magnificent countryside.
He added that the other parties’ manifestos demonstrate how out of touch they are with local people, who face the imposition of “ugly” mega pylons and vast battery storage plants which scar the countryside.
Findlay said that the Scottish Conservatives will always give local communities the final say on such projects and that pylons should be an option of last resort for energy infrastructure.
Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay said: "Labour, Reform and the SNP have no qualms about the mass industrialisation of Scotland's magnificent countryside. But we are determined to speak up for rural Scotland.
“These other parties are out of touch with the views of Scots who face the imposition of ugly mega pylons and vast battery storage plants which scar the countryside.
“That’s why the Scottish Conservatives are committed to giving local communities the final say over any new energy projects, leaving pylons as the option of last resort.
“But if the SNP win the election, they'll continue to disregard the views of locals. That’s why people should vote Scottish Conservative on the peach ballot to stop an SNP majority.”
Notes:
The Scottish Conservatives will protect our natural environment against pylons. We will pause all major energy infrastructure applications whilst we put in place a new policy that gives local communities a clear say in the process, introduce a new law that would allow communities to say no to new pylons, require energy companies to pay into a compensation fund for residents who will be impacted by pylons and other similar infrastructure, and make pylons the option of last resort for energy infrastructure projects. (Scottish Conservatives, 23 April 2026, https://www.scottishconservatives.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Web-SCUP-Manifesto-2026.pdf. Click or tap if you trust this link." data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="0">link).
Reform would fast track the construction of pylons and other energy infrastructure across Scotland. Their manifesto states that they would: “Revise and simplify the planning system to fast-track permissions for hydro, micro-hydro, geothermal, open-cast coal mining, and electrical network infrastructure, especially on brownfield or industrial sites, while retaining protections for Scotland’s invaluable natural beauty, and taking into account local communities”. (Reform UK Manifesto for Scotland 2026, 19 March 2026 https://www.reformparty.uk/scotland-manifesto.pdf)
Scottish Labour, in alignment with the UK Labour government, supports the rapid expansion of electricity pylons and transmission infrastructure in Scotland. Their 2026 manifesto stresses that they will classify national grid builds as a national planning priority. Scottish Labour has also indicated plans to speed up the planning and approval process for energy projects such as pylons. (Scottish Labour, 23 April 2026,, [http://Labour has indicated plans to speed up the planning and approval process for energy projects,
The SNP support the rollout of pylons and have repeatedly overruled community objections. An analysis of the Energy Consents Unit database shows that 47 developments have been approved by government ministers since 2020/21, despite local councils or community councils formally objecting to them. Their 2026 manifesto contains no reference to pylons or the ability of communities to object to them. (The Scotsman, 28 December 2025, https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/dozens-of-energy-projects-pushed-through-against-local-community-wishes-5456111.