Shadow energy secretary Caroline Flint, speaking in a Daily Politics debate on energy and climate change on Monday afternoon, said the party has made it clear that “nuclear is an important part of the energy mix going forward”.
She said her party rules out conceeding this issue to the SNP, in the event of any coalition or policy negotiations, and that Labour stands by its pledge made in the last government that new nuclear is needed to help the UK to reduce its carbon emissions and meet future electricity demand.
The SNP has ruled out the development of any new nuclear power stations in its manifesto, which was launched today, in which it also called for the regulator to be given powers to force energy companies to cut bills, and to be jointly overseen by the Scottish parliament.
Flint stood by her party’s pledge to freeze energy bills, allowing them to only fall, but admitted that funding low carbon technologies, such as carbon capture and storage, would add costs to energy generation.
Conservative energy minister Matthew Hancock claimed that Labour’s support for low carbon technologies would add £96 per year to energy bills, adding: “Bang goes Labour’s so called price freeze”.
He stated that his party would ensure the climate change obligations are met in a way “that does not cost the earth”. Hancock added: “With new technology and international agreement we can tackle this problem in a way that brings costs down.”