"Scottish voters need to know whether or not he supports the building of new nuclear power stations in Scotland, but once again he's dodged the issue.  He's clearly more interested in appeasing his masters in London than improving the lives of people in Scotland.

"We all know of Scotland's vast renewables potential, and that's one of the reasons why the SNP say it's unnecessary to build new nuclear power stations here.

"Scots deserve straight answers to straight questions from their politicians, so Jack McConnell must come clean on his position now, rather than relying on rumour and spin to protect his back.

Ms Sturgeon added: "The nuclear issue is just one example of why Scotland badly needs new leadership.  As we heard this morning, all Jack McConnell has to offer Scots are the same old scare stories.  What he doesn't realise is that it simply doesn't wash with the public any more.

"People can see right through Labour's negative attacks and are opting for the positive change offered by the SNP. "At next year's elections the people of Scotland have a clear choice between being stuck in the past with Labour or moving forward with the SNP."