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Fears over threat to nuclear industry
The anti-nuclear “dogma” of the Liberal Democrats is endangering a renaissance in atomic power which would create hundreds of jobs in Lancashire, a Labour leadership hopeful has claimed.
Shadow Energy Secretary Ed Miliband warned that the coalition government is sending “mixed signals” to the investors whose billions are needed to bankroll the construction of ten new nuclear power plants, including one in Heysham.
He voiced his concerns after the government revealed that a long-awaited National Policy Statement (NPS), which will pave the way for a new generation of nuclear power, will not be presented to Parliament until next spring – a delay of six months.
Energy minister Charles Hendry said that he wanted to ensure that the government’s energy policy statements were “fit for purpose” and ordered a “re-consultation”.
Mr Miliband said: “I have been concerned to hear about the delay. I think the most important message about new nuclear is that we send a clear signal and the clear signal is that it should go ahead.
“I’m very concerned that we have a Secretary of State who is at best ambivalent about new nuclear.”
The Lib Dems have long opposed any new nuclear power stations, while the Tories are committed to allowing the construction of new plants, provided they are subject to the normal planning process and receive no public subsidy.
The coalition agreement allows the government to press ahead with a new wave of nuclear power stations - but also allows Energy Secretary Mr Huhne to speak against the policy and for Lib Dem MPs to abstain during any Commons votes.
However, Mr Miliband believes that Lib Dem opposition to nuclear was why an £80m loan to help steel firm Sheffield Forgemasters become a world leader in nuclear manufacturing was axed.
He said: “It suggests a dogma against new nuclear - that is fundamentally what the Liberals believe.”
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Tuesday 07 February 2012
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