Christians Criticise Blair for Pro-Nuclear Plans

Christians are urgently warning Prime Minister Tony Blair of the consequences of his proposed nuclear energy policies.

|PIC1|Chancellor Gordon Brown is already backing Blair’s plans to build a new generation of nuclear power stations. The Chancellor believes that giving nuclear power a new lease of life is part of the solution to Britain's energy problems.

Blair faced criticism yesterday for pre-empting a review on the matter by saying in a speech on Tuesday that its first draft had put the nuclear option back on the agenda “with a vengeance.”

However, Christians have told the Prime Minister to show a greater “respect” to contributors to the government’s review.

Christian Ecology Link's Chairman Tim Cooper said: "The energy review was supposed to draw upon expert opinion to shape future energy strategy and be subject to democratic debate in Parliament. Instead the Prime Minister has sought to pre-empt the decision on nuclear energy through yesterday's speech to the CBI. We condemn this style of leadership.

"We welcomed the Government's invitation to contribute to the energy review and, having offered a serious contribution to ethical debate, we now feel that the Prime Minister is treating us with contempt. If he wishes to revive democracy in Britain he should be patient, honest and respectful to those with whom his Government consults."

|TOP|Public opinion on nuclear energy is sharply divided. A Populus survey for the Stockholm Network group of think tanks revealed that 46 percent of people agreed that “if Britain is to lessen its dependence on foreign energy imports and meet its target for reducing carbon emissions, we may have to build new nuclear power stations in this country.”

However, 42 percent also stated that they would rather Britain failed to meet its carbon emissions targets and continued to import energy from abroad.

The Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone said a new generation of nuclear power stations would be an expensive and dangerous mistake.

Livingstone said, “It will be the great misjudgement of our generation to go back down the nuclear road, which would saddle our children and grandchildren with the consequences.”

|AD|Mr Blair does not need legislation to authorise more nuclear power stations to be built in Britain, but more than 50 MPs have now signed a Commons motion calling for a debate and vote in parliament.

Liberal Democrat MP Jenny Willott, tabled the motion, as she accused Mr Blair of showing a "blatant disregard for the views of the people".

She added: "The future of our energy supply is one of the biggest decisions we face in Britain today, and the Prime Minister is trying to force it through without proper parliamentary debate."

Christian Ecology Link’s recent report, entitled ‘Faith and power’ called for a low consumption, non-nuclear energy strategy on ethical grounds. The report was submitted to the government as its contribution to the energy review.

The report was given positive support by a number of leading Church figures across Britain, including the Bishop of Liverpool, as well as the Head of the Government’s Sustainable Development Commission, Jonathon Porritt.