New nukes
GORDON BROWN backs more nuclear power stations in Britain in a move today that makes it certain that the Government will soon approve the commissioning of new plants. Any hopes of anti-nuclear campaigners and many Labour MPs that a change of prime minister might see a reversal of Labour’s pro-nuclear stance will be extinguished by the Chancellor’s article in The Times today in which he explicitly supports new stations. At the same time he clears away one of the last remaining areas of potential policy difference with Tony Blair, helping what most politicians believe will be a handover of power within 12 months.
Times 10th June 2006
BBC 10th June 2006
BLINK and you might miss it. But in a three-word sub-clause in his article penned exclusively for The Times Business today, the Chancellor of the Exchequer commits himself to the building of a new generation of nuclear power stations. It is a remarkable statement, not least because it shows Gordon Brown and Tony Blair singing from the same hymn sheet on not one but two critically important issues of state. First it was pensions. Now, three weeks after the Prime Minister said that nuclear energy was back on the agenda with “a vengeance,” the Chancellor signals agreement.
Times 10th June 2006
Gordon Brown’s article: he says: “..in Britain over the coming weeks and months we will demonstrate our enhanced flexibility with further reforms in planning, skills and labour markets, and in energy policy, including new nuclear, and we will build on the capital gains tax cuts..”
Times 10th June 2006
Tony Blair signalled his determination to order a new generation of nuclear power stations by signing a formal agreement yesterday that could lead to French companies building them.
Telegraph 10th June 2006
Independent 10th June 2006
Guardian 10th June 2006
Guardian 10th June 2006
Scotsman 10th June 2006
FT 10th June 2006
TONY Blair was last night accused of bulldozing Britain into going nuclear – after hinting he was ready to build a new wave of the controversial power plants. But last night angry MPs accused him of prejudicing the Government’s energy review, which will next month deliver its verdict on whether the UK’s ageing nuclear power plants should be replaced. Tory spokesman Alan Duncan last night said Mr Blair’s comments had “totally pre-empted” his own energy review. Mr Duncan added: “He is clearly making a hasty dash for nuclear power in order to define his legacy before he leaves office. “However, he still hasn’t given any indication of how he will get the investment required. And he has not yet agreed policy for dealing with nuclear waste.”
Daily Mirror 10th June 2006
TONY Blair’s technology blindness has struck again. In thrall to experts, scientists and big business, he has signalled he is going to order a new generation of nuclear power plants across Britain. There is little sign he has thought about the price of building them, the clean-up costs or the danger of a nuclear disaster. When will the man who admits to knowing nothing about technology learn that complicated technology is not always the answer to our problems?
Daily Mirror 10th June 2006
Iran
A HARD-line Iranian cleric spoke out yesterday against an incentive package aimed at persuading his country to suspend its uranium enrichment programme, amid fears it is trying to develop a nuclear bomb.
Scotsman 10th June 2006
Time is running out for the diplomatic effort to resolve the dispute over Iran’s nuclear programme and Washington has no intention of striking a comprehensive “grand bargain” with Tehran, the US’s ambassador to the United Nations has warned. Speaking to the Financial Times, John Bolton made clear many of his reservations about the current outreach to Iran, which Condoleezza Rice, US secretary of state, has persuaded President George W. Bush to endorse.
FT 10th June 2006
Nuclear Weapons
Nuclear scientist Joseph Rotblat campaigned against the atom bomb he had helped unleash. Is it time for today’s cyber scientists to heed his legacy?
Guardian 10th June 2006
