Blair 'backtracks' on nuclear power
Tuesday, 04 Jul 2006 17:12
Blair 'backtracks' on nuclear power
In Focus
Join the fight against childhood obesity by logging on to our webchat. Full Story
The prime minister has given a strong indication that he will back the use of nuclear power in meeting the UK's energy needs.
Although the role of nuclear power remained unclear in the 2003 energy white paper, Tony Blair said that he had amended his views due to energy challenges that have emerged in the last three years.
Speaking at a question and answer session by the Commons liaison committee, Mr Blair said that "it's very hard to see where we are going to get…more energy supplies without having nuclear power".
"I'll be absolutely open with you, I've changed my mind," he added.
Conservative MP Tim Yeo, who chairs the environmental audit committee, claimed that the prime minister's comments were the clearest indication yet that Tony Blair would give the green light for the use of nuclear power regardless of the findings of this month's anticipated energy review.
Speaking on BBC Radio Four, Mr Yeo said: "We did extract quite a significant admission from him which was he had made up his mind that we needed more nuclear power stations before he actually announced the energy review.
"That rather makes a mockery of the review, it is a bit of an insult to the people who have taken the trouble to write it and given their views to it."
He added that Mr Blair has become "very pro nuclear" and that he feared Downing Street's "near obsession" with nuclear power could overshadow the development of other energy sources.
