Brake Condemns Government Dash for Nuclear

9.22.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Fri 11th Jan 2008

Commenting on the Government's decision to create a new generation of nuclear power stations, Tom Brake Lib Dem MP for Carshalton and Wallington was scathing of the Government's position;

"The government have again shown an inability to think originally. Nuclear power is not a modern and forward-thinking technology. It is a dangerous gamble in the race to meet Britain's energy needs over the next 50 plus years."

Mr Brake went on to say "even the Government's own energy review in 2003 and the report of a Royal Commission in 2000 confirmed that it would be possible to have a low carbon, non-nuclear energy strategy, if energy policy was to focus on energy efficiency, renewables and new technologies. This just proves that Ministers are ignoring all sensible advice on the issue."

The UK's record on renewable energy is lamentable, this source currently accounts for less than 5% of UK electricity production.

The Liberal Democrat environment spokesman, Steve Webb commented in the debate, "I can't decide whether new nuclear is a white elephant or a red herring."

Notes:

In May 2007 the Liberal Democrats unveiled their Energy Paper containing plans to create a low-carbon electricity generation system, without recourse to nuclear power. Instead of nuclear re-builds, the paper proposes conserving energy, using renewables and encouraging the use of alternatives such as hydrogen fuels as technology develops. The paper is an ambitious one and you can find more information on the Liberal Democrat website at: http://www.libdems.org.uk/environment/