Wednesday 21 September 2016

Lib Dems vote to scrap Hinkley plan

Liberal Democrats members have approved a motion to scrap Hinkley at their party conference.

The vote follows Theresa May’s decision to give the final approval to the £18 billion project, the first nuclear plant in a generation, after she decided to review the project.

Business, Energy and Industrial Secretary Greg Clark said: "We will introduce a series of measures to enhance security and will ensure Hinkley cannot change hands without the Government’s agreement.

"Britain needs to upgrade its supplies of energy and we have always been clear that nuclear is an important part of ensuring our future low-carbon energy security."

However, the Lib Dems believe Hinkley "represents very poor value for money for UK consumers".

They also state no working nuclear station based on the EPR design has been built and two nuclear stations currently under construction, in France and Finland, are both delayed and over budget.

In a statement they added: "Conference calls for a UK energy strategy resting on investments in energy efficiency, renewable energy, storage and interconnection with European grids, thereby providing energy security, an end to fuel poverty and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions at the same time as creating jobs, exports and prosperity."