THE majority of Scots remain opposed to building nuclear power stations and disposing of nuclear waste north of the border, according to a new poll.

Most would prefer Scotland to turn to renewable sources such as wind, wave and solar power to meet future energy needs, rather than nuclear or gas or coal-fired electricity plants.

The findings, for BBC Scotland's Energy Week, are a setback for the nuclear industry, which has tried to promote itself as a reliable alternative to imported energy and a low emitter of the gases which lead to global warming.

The poll will also inflame tensions within the Scottish Executive, with the Liberal Democrats staunchly opposed to nuclear, but Labour ready to back a new generation of atomic power.

It found 69per cent of respondents "strongly" opposed to storing or disposing of nuclear waste in Scotland, and a further 11per cent who would "tend to oppose" it.

In total, opponents outnumbered advocates and don't knows by a margin of four to one.

Asked if they would support or oppose building nuclear power stations in Scotland, 51per cent were against (35per cent strongly), compared with 33per cent in favour (14per cent strongly).

Renewables were the preferred power source at 52per cent, compared with 21per cent for gasfired power stations, 16per cent for nuclear, and 6per cent for coal-fired stations.

However, the survey suggests public opinion is fluid.

When people were asked if they would support new stations "if they helped us avoid being dependent on energy imported from overseas", much of the previous opposition evaporated. Instead, there was 54per cent support for the plants and only 34per cent of respondents remained opposed.

Whitehall is consulting on how to replace the electricity generating capacity from the UK's nuclear plants, which will be obsolete within 20 years.

The executive's attitude is critical because although energy policy is reserved, planning is devolved, and Scottish ministers could refuse permission to build new plants.

Labour and the LibDems have so far avoided a damaging split by deferring a decision on plants until after an independent commission reports on how to deal with nuclear waste. But when that report emerges in the summer it is likely to conclude there is no neat solution, and the parties are likely to start arguing in earnest.

Nuclear's ability to split the coalition was underlined by revelations yesterday it may already have split the LibDems.

Speaking on the eve of today's publication of the Sustainable Development Commission's report on nuclear and the environment, Sir Menzies Campbell, the new LibDem leader, said he had "little difficulty in rejecting nuclear" on cost and environmental grounds.

However, The Sunday Herald yesterday revealed leaked correspondence from Lord Thurso, the Caithness MP and LibDem Scottish secretary, to trade unions at the Dounreay nuclear plant in which he exposed internal party disagreements.

He said he had to abstain on an anti-nuclear motion moved by the LibDem environment spokesman, Norman Baker, in the Commons on January 17.

He added: "It may be that a time will come when I feel obliged to resign from the shadow cabinet to pursue my views more fully."

Last night, he told The Herald: "My views on nuclear power are well known. I have spoken to Ming about it and he knows I could never back LibDem policy opposing nuclear."

Asked if he could continue in his present role, Lord Thurso said he might not even be in the LibDem shadow cabinet after this week's reshuffle.

Reacting to the poll findings, Richard Lochhead, SNP energy spokesman, said the people of Scotland had rejected the nuclear industry's "propaganda". He said: "Nuclear power is dirty, dangerous and unwanted inScotland, as this poll shows. Scotland has the potential to be Europe's renewables powerhouse, and ministers should be concentrating on developing this potential, not pandering to the desires of their Labour masters in London."

A spokesman for the Scottish LibDems restated the party's opposition, adding: "It's clear most Scots see the logic in not building any new nuclear power stations when there are no viable long-term solutions to what to do with the highly radioactive waste."

Chris Ballance, Green speaker on nuclear issues, said the idea that support for nuclear went up if it helped end reliance on imported energy was a red herring, as uranium was also imported.

"If we use energy carefully, Scotland can meet our own needs using safe, clean, renewable energy sources.

"Now Scottish ministers need to get on with delivering that. Nuclear is nothing but a dangerous distraction."

Labour declined to comment.

The telephone survey of 1007 people was carried out by ICM between February 24 and 28.Poll findings Q: Would you support or oppose nuclear waste being stored or disposed of in Scotland?Support: 14per cent Oppose: 80per cent Q: Would you support or oppose nuclear power stations being built in Scotland?Support: 33per cent Oppose: 51per cent Q: Would you support or oppose building new nuclear power stations in Scotland if they helped us to avoid being dependent on energy imported from overseas?Support: 54per cent Oppose: 34per cent The telephone survey of 1007 people was carried out by ICM between 24 and 28 February for BBC Sc