UK Politics DA Insider political support for nuclear energy from nuclear lobby and conservative politicians in the UK Lucas 12 [Caroline Lucas, MP for Brighton Pavilion and a member of the cross-party parliamentary environment audit committee, we must phase out nuclear The “Why power,” Guardian, February 17, 2012, ] [Premier] In the UK, the government is determined to push ahead with the development of a new fleet of nuclear reactors, The orchestrated effort as the partnership announced by David Cameron and Nicholas Sarkozy shows. between coalition officials and the nuclear industry to create a pro-nuclear public information campaign in the days after Fukushima showed that not even a large-scale nuclear incident could halt ministers' obsession Officials did not even wait with new nuclear. for the results of the government's own safety to assure the British people that a similar disaster is not possible in the UK. review before rushing Now, the proposed electricity market reform is set to rig the energy market in favour of nuclear with the introduction of a carbon price floor likely to – Despite persistent denials by ministers, result in huge windfall handouts of around £50m a year to existing nuclear generators. this is clearly a subsidy by another name, making a mockery of the coalition pledge not to gift public money to this already established industry. The Energy Fair group is arguing that the cap on liabilities for nuclear accidents is technically a subsidy and therefore illegal under EU law and is now taking the case to the European commission. –
UK Politics DA Insider political support for nuclear energy from nuclear lobby and conservative politicians in the UK Lucas 12 [Caroline Lucas, MP for Brighton Pavilion and a member of the cross-party parliamentary environment audit committee, “Why we must phase out nuclear power,” The Guardian, February 17, 2012, ] [Premier] In the UK, the government is determined to push ahead with the development of a new fleet of nuclear reactors, as the partnership announced by David Cameron and Nicholas Sarkozy shows. The orchestrated effort between coalition officials and the nuclear industry to create a pro-nuclear public information campaign in the days after Fukushima showed that not even a large-scale nuclear incident could halt ministers' obsession with new nuclear. Officials did not even wait for the results of the government's own safety review before rushing to assure the British people that a similar disaster is not possible in the UK. Now, the proposed electricity market reform is set to rig the energy market in favour of nuclear – with the introduction of a carbon price floor likely to result in huge windfall handouts of around £50m a year to existing nuclear generators. Despite persistent denials by ministers, this is clearly a subsidy by another name, making a mockery of the coalition pledge not to gift public money to this already established industry. The Energy Fair group is arguing that the cap on liabilities for nuclear accidents is technically a subsidy and therefore illegal under EU law – and is now taking the case to the European commission.
Premier-Debate-Brief-SO16.docx