Campaigners slam government's decision to commit additional £2.7bn to Sizewell C
They're concerned about the financial and environmental costs of the project
Campaigners in Suffolk tell us they'll keep fighting against plans to build a nuclear power station on the county's coast - which they say will have a devastating impact on the local environment.
It comes after the Chancellor - in Wednesday's budget - reaffirmed the Government's commitment of £2.7 billion pounds for the development of Sizewell C.
Those in power hope the project will help the UK reach it's net-zero targets, but campaigners against the plans remain unconvinced, expressing concerns about the financial and environmental costs of it.
"Risky, expensive"
Alison Downes, from Stop Sizewell C, criticised Rachel Reeve's decision:“For a government that criticised the opposition for playing fast and loose with the nation’s finances, the Chancellor is surprisingly happy to do the same, allocating another £2.7 billion of taxpayers’ money on risky, expensive Sizewell C, without making any guarantee of a Final Investment Decision being taken.
"Including £2.5 billion already spent, this means £5.2 billion of our money will be spent on a project that cannot even help Labour achieve its energy mission, and is looking increasingly toxic to private investors.”
"Staggering"
Jenny Kirtley, Chair of Together Against Sizewell C (TASC), agreed: “TASC find this decision appalling - Labour promised ‘change’ but there is no change here as they quietly splurge a further £2.7 billion on Sizewell C, a Boris Johnson vanity project, despite the poor state of this country’s finances and the lack of transparency surrounding the full cost of the project.
"It’s staggering that Labour, even though they cast doubt about the future of the project by stating, “a Final Investment Decision on whether to proceed with the project will be taken in Phase 2 of the Spending Review”, have increased the outlay of UK taxpayer funds on EDF’s Sizewell C white elephant by a further £2.7 billion."
Jenny thinks the money would be better spent elsewhere: "Labour chooses to prop up the ailing French nuclear industry rather than fund more deserving causes in the UK.
"The funds wasted on Sizewell C would be better spent on measures such as insulation and energy efficiency that could reduce bills now, as well as quicker to deploy renewables that will produce cheaper, cleaner electricity without the legacy of toxic radioactive waste, helping Labour achieve its aim to decarbonise the electricity grid by 2030.”
What does EDF say?
EDF says, when up and running, the plant will generate enough low-carbon electricity to power around 6 million homes, and will "deliver clean, reliable, and affordable power for generations".