Starmer vows to "get Britain building" ahead of Hinkley Point C visit
The Labour leader says it's "critical" for nuclear to drive growth and boost energy security
Sir Keir Starmer has accused the Conservatives of a "shambolic" failure to open any nuclear power plants during 13 years of power.
The Labour leader vowed to "get Britain building" as he stressed the "critical" need for nuclear to drive growth, boost energy security and tackle the climate crisis.
His party claims the Tories' failure to open any of the 10 nuclear sites approved under the last Labour government has cost 7,000 British jobs.
Despite Sizewell C and Hinkley Point C being identified in 2009, they are still not operational.
Ahead of a visit to a nuclear plant in Somerset on Monday, Sir Keir said the UK's "ambition and potential grinds to a halt" under the Tories.
"The British people should be benefitting from our country's natural resources, but the Tories' woeful record is holding us all back," he said.
"My government will lower household energy bills, create jobs and ensure Britain's energy security.
"Nuclear is a critical part of the UK's energy mix. It's shambolic that after 13 years of Tory government, not one of the 10 nuclear sites approved by the last Labour Government have been built."
Labour's own energy plans are coming under scrutiny, however.
GMB union general secretary Gary Smith warned the party's policy to ban new oil and gas extraction licences it the North Sea will create a "cliff edge" that will hit jobs.
Shadow business secretary Jonathan Reynolds insisted that fossil fuel extraction in the North Sea would continue until 2050, protecting the 28,000 workers in the sector.
Responding to Labour's nuclear criticisms, a Tory spokesman said: "In 1997 the Labour Party cut the legs off Britain's nuclear industry declaring 'no new nuclear', nationalising British Energy and handing our energy dependency to China and France.
"That's why there hasn't been a nuclear power station built under the Labour Party since Britain had the shilling.
"The Conservatives started turning that around, delivering the first large-scale nuclear project Hinkley Point C and agreeing last year to begin Sizewell C."