Press Release:

Wrong Answer

Jamie Reed condemns report of
Sustainable Development Commission

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“The Commission has reached the wrong answer; ancient dogma has clearly been allowed to get in the way of scientific fact,” said Reed.

“The whole premise of the report is based upon the false notion that government support for nuclear power would result in less market support for renewable sources of energy. Let me be absolutely clear, I strongly favour renewable energy sources but the notion that we could run our economy on these is baseless.”

“Our nation needs flexible, reliable, secure sources of energy. Renewables have a large and I hope expanding role to play in this but it is shameful to peddle a false prospectus. Britain needs a balanced energy policy made up of clean coal and gas technologies, renewables and nuclear. Britain does not have to choose between renewables and nuclear, the truth is that we need both.”

“I have long argued for the parameters of the energy debate to be based upon scientific fact and the realities of the problems posed by climate change and security of supply. Instead, some organisations and individuals seem unable to jettison their historic prejudices when it comes to considering nuclear power. The report calls for a ‘nuclear free economy’ – to do this we would have to stop importing electricity from France, stop using x-rays and radiography in the health service and shut down the research laboratories of some of the nation’s most reputable companies and universities - all before we even address the civil nuclear industry. Calls such as this cannot be taken seriously and I believe that policy makers within government will view this report with incredulity. This is a missed opportunity for this group to make a serious policy contribution to one of the most important issue of our times.”