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Tories Favour Nuclear Power

Posted: 28/04/2005

The Conservatives have paved the way for a new generation of nuclear reactors by backing the controversial energy source as a way to tackle climate change. The Tories would launch an urgent review of energy policy within days of coming to power after 5 May, Tim Yeo, the shadow environment secretary, pledged. The party’s stance on nuclear power will also be interpreted as a green light for Labour to put forward proposals for new reactors to parliament, if Tony Blair - who has openly spoken of his support for the nuclear option - wins a third term.

Mr Yeo told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: "We believe that nuclear power can play an important role in addressing the problems [of climate change] provided it is cost competitive and provided it can satisfy people’s concerns on waste disposal." He argued that Britain was too reliant on gas pipelines running through Russia for its energy sources, which could give President Vladimir Putin the power to "turn off the lights" in Britain.

The Tories would make the case for nuclear energy as a way to cut carbon emissions and ensure security of supply, Mr Yeo said. As a fifth of Britain’s energy supply was generated by ageing nuclear stations destined for closure, it was inevitable that more energy would be derived from carbon emitting sources in the absence of a serious renewable strategy, the Tories argued.

Mr Blair is expected to wait until after the election before launching a debate over new nuclear options to halt global warming. Behind the scenes, a review is already under way at Downing Street’s strategy unit with Lord Birt, former director general of the BBC, at the helm. It will probe security of supply and how to tackle global warming - two key priorities endorsed by the Conservatives - which could point to nuclear energy as the answer. Mr Blair will raise the issue ahead of the G8 summit in Gleneagles.

Under the proposals, new reactors would be built next to existing nuclear plants which are soon due for decommissioning, including ones at Hunterston in Ayrshire and Torness in East Lothian. Any moves towards building new nuclear reactors could face opposition from Liberal Democrats both in the Scottish Executive - which would decide over planning permission - as well as the Scottish National Party and Green MSPs.

Norman Baker, the Lib Dems’ environment spokesman, described the strategy of using nuclear energy to tackle climate change as "jumping from the frying pan into the fire". And Duncan McLaren, Friends of the Earth Scotland’s chief executive, said it was ironic that the Tories were backing an industry that had been such a drain on the taxpayer in the past. "It is no surprise that in Scotland none of the political parties has dared to put the idea of new nuclear power stations in their manifestos," Mr McLaren said. "Those parties who are intent on foisting new nuclear power stations on us should at least have the guts to put it in their manifesto so that it can then be put to the people."
Gerri Peev / The Scotsman  
 

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