Boris Johnson has given the green light to the Sizewell C nuclear power plant in Suffolk, promising government funding of £700m for the project.
He confirmed the move in a speech from the website during one of his last acts as prime minister – and amid the growing cost of living crisis – saying he ” fully confident that it will cross the line” in the next few weeks.
The government previously said the £20 billion power station would take less than a decade to build and could power six million homes.
Mr Johnson is will be replaced as prime minister next week when Rishi Sunak or Liz Truss is announced as the successor.
Direct politics: Boris Johnson makes £700m promise as time in office draws to a close
In his speech, the Prime Minister praised the history of nuclear discovery in the UK, but asked “what happened to us?” – declared British nuclear power to be in a state of “paralysis”.
He criticized “short-termism” which he said had resulted in no new nuclear power plants being built in the UK in almost 30 years, while countries like France have built four in the same space. time frame.
And he criticized past leaders of both the Labor Party and the Liberal Democrats – though he did not mention his party’s time in office – saying it was “a chronic case of political cannot look beyond the political cycle” and investment choices.
Mr Johnson said his government’s UK energy security strategy was to “correct the chronic mistakes of the past and make the long-term decisions it needs”, adding: “We need to withdraw Finger your country out and continue with Sizewell C.
“This project will create tens of thousands of jobs, it will also power six million homes – that’s about a fifth of all UK homes – so it will help address the demand.” energy, not only of this generation but of the next.”
‘The Great British Nuclear Campaign’
Earlier this week, the Financial Times reported that with the purchase of a stake in Sizewell C, the government would give investors confidence in the country’s commitment to new nuclear power plants.
The paper also said that France’s state-owned EDF, the project’s developer, would also take a stake in efforts to remove a Chinese state-backed nuclear energy company from the project.
But the advocacy group Stop Sizewell said the power plant was a “vanity project” for the Prime Minister that his successor should “deliver to the trash”.
They added: “When every penny matters, it is completely wrong to tie the next prime minister and billions of taxpayer dollars to this damaging project, which has inflated costs, prolonged construction. , the technology is fragile and the long-term supply of water is uncertain.”
Mr Johnson said there was “no culture of aversion to nuclear power” in the UK, and the advocacy group – which protested outside the venue ahead of his speech – was an example of “pure nimbyism”. drugs”.
He added: “A baby born this year will be powered by Sizewell C long after she retires and this new reactor is just one part of our great UK nuclear campaign. we.”
Recommended Sizewell C location in Suffolk. Photo: EDF
The announcement comes as the government is facing increasing pressure to tackle rising energy costs, with price cap set to increase by 80% in October.
Mr Johnson insisted it would be up to Ms Truss or Mr Sunak to decide what help would be provided to households and businesses, but he said “it’s clear that with the new administration, there will be an extra one” support packages” .
During a Q&A session, he added: “We have the financial strength to deal with this. We have a strong employment situation, we have the revenue from Exchequer to allow us to help. everyone.
“That gives us the strength to continue supporting people.”
Sizewell was the final stop on the Prime Minister’s tour of the UK during his final days in office, where he spoke about gigabit broadband in Dorset, policy number in Lewisham and defense cooperation at Barrow.
Mr Johnson was hesitant to discuss his plans after leaving Number 10 – his replacement will take over the shop on Tuesday – but asked what he would be like, he said: “I I think only time will tell the answer to that.
“But my intention and what I will certainly do is give full and unprofessional support to whoever takes over from me.
“Otherwise, really to move on with life.”
Liz Truss or Rishi Sunak to be announced as new Prime Minister on Monday and take over Number 10 on Tuesday
And the Prime Minister had advice for the next residents of Downing Street: “I think it is fair to say that this government has not shied away from big decisions.
“We’ve looked up, we’ve looked to the horizon and I just said, whoever follows me next, I know they’ll do the same.
“So the nation is no longer short-sighted, no longer short-termism, let’s think about the future, think about our children and grandchildren, about the next generation.
“And so I say to you, with the prophetic candlelight and insight of someone who is about to hand over the torch of ministry, I say go nuclear and go big and go with Sizewell C.”
