Minister finally announces nuclear power 'renaissance' after years of dithering

18 July 2023 , 15:46

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Grant Shapps today announced a nuclear power 'renaissance' in the UK (Image: PA)

Ministers have FINALLY set out a plan for nuclear power after years of "shambolic" dithering - but a top Tory declined to say if he'd want a plant in his own area.

Energy Security Secretary Grant Shapps hailed a "renaissance" as he pledged that by 2050 a quarter of the UK's electricity would come from nuclear power.

But Labour has dismissed it as "yet another relaunch" after 13 years of failure.

Mr Shapps admitted he wishes "we'd got on with it sooner" as he claimed MPs are desperate for a new facility in their constituency.

But asked if he'd want one in his Welwyn Hatfield patch, he said: "If we had a nuclear tradition I'm sure it would be popular. It doesn't as it happens." He then added: "I'd be a long way behind other constituencies who want this."

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The Government has already committed to a new Sizewell C plant (Handout)

The Government has pledged grants of up to £157 million to several projects across the UK - as well as a competition for businesses to develop new nuclear reactors. He announced a new Government-backed body, Great British Nuclear, had been set up to support the industry after a number of "false dawns".

Mr Shapps said it had been a "colossal mistake" for previous administrations to shelve the technology, but Labour said he should look closer to home.

Shadow Energy Minister Alan Whitehead pointed out that Labour committed to 10 nuclear projects in 2009, but none of them have come to fruition since the Tories took power. He said: “Yet another relaunch of Great British Nuclear cannot cover up thirteen years of failure by this government on nuclear.

“It's shambolic that after 13 years of Tory government, not one of the 10 nuclear sites approved by the last Labour Government have been built. Ministers should today tell us whether they can guarantee to keep their promise to bring Sizewell to final investment decision this Parliament. The signs are not encouraging."

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Mr Shapps said he is keen for smaller nuclear reactors - known as modular reactors (SMRs) - to be brought into operation by the early 2030s. The Cabinet minister said that Chinese firms would be able to invest in future projects - but said there would be "no direct technology transfer".

Mr Shapps said: "I won't take Chinese money into anything which is part of our national infrastructure in terms of sharing the technologies or anything else."

He said that such an approach "got the balance right" in meeting security concerns.

Under David Cameron, the Government promised to build eight power plants, but just one - Hinkley Point C - is under construction, with a reactor scheduled to be operational in 2027.

The Government has also committed to the Sizewell C project in Sussex, which was identified 11 years ago.

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Mr Shapps floated a potential £20 billion plan backing the development of smaller scale nuclear technology projects - but stressed that funding has yet to be committed by the Government.

Dave Burke