ANAS Sarwar has claimed that nuclear power should be "part of the mix" to help meet Scotland's future energy demand.

The Scottish Labour leader set out the party’s climate policies, including a pledge to ensure every Scottish home has an energy efficiency rating of C or higher by 2030.

The Scottish Government has already set 2033 as a hard backstop for all buildings, including commercial and public buildings, meeting the energy efficient standards.

Mr Sarwar also called for a statutory just transition commission to be established to help workers move out of the oil and gas industry.

He said his party would push the Scottish and UK governments to go “further and faster” in delivering climate promises.

Mr Sarwar said: “We want to talk about a jobs-first transition, because there’s no such thing as a just transition that sacrifices entire communities and makes tens of thousands of people unemployed.”

Asked about nuclear power, he said: “I think we have to be honest about future opportunities and I think nuclear power has to be part of the mix.

“I’m not saying nuclear power has to be the priority, or the lead, but it has to be part of the mix to have a diverse energy supply.

“The idea that we can shut down industries, and instead import energy – it’s not good for security, it’s not good for jobs and it’s not good for affordability.”

Saying the public would not welcome increased energy bills to pay for the transition, he said: “I want to take the public with us, I don’t want to sacrifice jobs, and I think that means having a credible energy policy.”

Mr Sarwar was asked about the Beyond Oil and Gas Alliance, which seeks to phase out fossil fuels, which the Scottish Government is considering joining.

He said: “What we’re really good at in Scotland is signing up to big, bold pledges a long way down the road but not doing the work in the here and now.

“Of course we want to transition away from the oil and gas industry, but signing up to a statement is in itself not enough.

“So yes, that shows some of the thinking, but how we’re doing the work right now making the investment right now to create those jobs is the more important part and I don’t think the Scottish and UK governments are taking that seriously yet.”

Earlier this week, a Scottish Labour amendment in a Scottish Parliament debate proposed upgrading a number of roads across Scotland.

Asked if this would lead to higher demand for car travel, Mr Sarwar said road safety is still “really, really important” and many roads are not fit for purpose.

He said: “The idea we can pretend we don’t need roads any more – or safe roads any more – is just not credible and I don’t think the public would believe it.”