Prime Minister urged to make UK world-leader in new nuclear in conference speech

It has been reported today that when the Prime Minister makes his speech to Conservative conference on Wednesday he will  pledge huge investment in low carbon energy generation including new nuclear.

 

The move comes as Britain finds itself in the midst of an energy price crisis with gas prices causing fuel bills to soar. Prospect research ahs shown that if we don’t get on with building new nuclear power stations the UK will face an energy gap in the next ten years that will have to be filled by either importing more power or burning more fossil fuels.

Prospect general secretary Mike Clancy said:

“The energy price crisis has shone a spotlight on our fragile energy security, with the UK now too dependent on imported gas and electricity to complement our growing renewables sector.

“Nuclear is the answer to this problem, providing a balanced trinity of clean energy, high skilled jobs, and security partnerships with our closest allies.

“With COP26 in four weeks all eyes are on the UK – we have the opportunity to demonstrate to the world how action is more important than talk. We need the Prime Minister to back this vision with concrete steps, bringing forward a new funding formula, committing to multiple new projects, and taking the necessary action to secure the nuclear supply chain.

“This is make-or-break for nuclear and our decarbonisation hopes.”