News Extra

Does he or doesn't he? Blair and nukes.

Contradictory predictions appeared in two different newspapers on 28th June 2005 - even though both were reporting the same Prime Minister's monthly Downing Street news conference the day before. The front page of The Scotsman declared that "Blair signals support for new nuclear power stations". Blair, it said, gave his clearest signal yet that he will authorise the building of a new generation of nuclear reactors. He cast doubt on whether wind and wave farms or solar power were viable alternatives to nuclear power. Mr Blair also tacitly criticised the Scottish Executive's plan to block any new nuclear power station in Scotland, saying it was not "responsible" to rule out a new wave of generators come what may. "If you look at how much we are going to need to boost renewable energy over the next ten to 15 years, it's a lot". Mr Blair said of the prospect that such sources could remove the need to build new reactors: "I'm not saying we can't do it, but I am saying it's a huge investment and it's going to be very tough to do, and there are other countries that are going to make a different choice on nuclear power".

The Scotsman 28th June 2005

The Independent, on the other hand, reported that Britain's nuclear renaissance seems to be on the backburner again. Just three months back, there was much excited talk in the nuclear industry of how the Prime Minister and his Government were swinging behind the case for new nuclear build. At his monthly press conference yesterday, Mr Blair admitted that he was in no position "to give an answer on whether it is ever possible to get back into this nuclear debate. Maybe it isn't". Concerns over cost and public acceptability would have to be answered first, he suggested. On neither count is there much cause for optimism. A report published yesterday by Oxera finds that rates of return would not be high enough as things stand to attract commercial investment. Any programme of new nuclear build would therefore have to be underpinned either by direct Government subsidy, or through long-term contracts that would guarantee a set rate of return for nuclear output. And if Mr Blair favours an early nuclear debate, his Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, Alan Johnson, plainly doesn't. His view is strongly that renewables should be given a chance first. Many wind farm plans would be abandoned if it was thought the Government was about to press the button on new nuclear build. Mr Blair says he doesn't want to see the debate shut down. Yet there will be no proper debate at all unless the Government is prepared to take a lead. If even the Prime Minister is reluctant to do so, the nuclear lobby might as well pack its bags and head for China, where there's no public opinion to convince or argument to win. Thirty new stations are already planned there.
 
The Independent 28th June 2005