LETTER: Nuclear debate heats up as local MPs appear to say "Yes"

2.26.31pm GMT Sun 22nd Jan 2006

The Tyndall Centre and the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution say that we can achieve a 60 per cent reduction in carbon by 2050 without a new generation of nuclear power

On 17 January, in an Opposition Day debate led by the Liberal Democrats, our local Labour MPs Ann Keen and Alan Keen voted that they "do not oppose the construction of a new generation of civil nuclear power plants."

The arguments in favour of nuclear power have been based on two things: security of supply and global warming.

We can all agree about the absolute imperative of tackling climate change, but we can achieve that without nuclear power. It is not just Liberal Democrats saying that. The Tyndall Centre and the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution say that we can achieve a 60 per cent reduction in carbon by 2050. The Carbon Trust believes that we can achieve it, and the Government's own White Paper, which was published just three years ago, also claimed that. So there is no case for arguing that there is no alternative to nuclear power.

Since the last review, the Government have abjectly failed to do anything effective to cut energy waste. Departments are some of the worst offenders and the Treasury is the worst of all. The Government have also failed to develop a broad mix of renewable sources of energy. They will fail miserably to achieve their target of reducing 20 per cent of CO2 emissions by 2010.

There is a central contradiction in the Prime Minister's approach. The Government argues for "promoting competitive markets" but nuclear becomes viable only with a massive distortion of the market.

There is also a risk of the Government losing interest in renewable investment. They have not shown much in any case, but we may already be witnessing a reduction in commitment and investment. Clear Skies and photovoltaic programmes have run their course. Now the successor programmes provide reduced investment per year compared with previous schemes.

So come on Ann and Alan explain why you want this nuclear quick fix, rather than sorting out the government's own back yard and investing substantially in renewable energy.

Andrew Dakers, Lib Dem Spokesperson for Brentford & Isleworth

Satnam Kaur Khalsa, Lib Dem Spokesperson for Feltham & Heston