{"id":3121,"date":"2025-02-07T08:34:40","date_gmt":"2025-02-07T08:34:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/260web.com\/news\/chris-mason-starmer-goes-nuclear-in-hunt-for-long-term-growth\/"},"modified":"2025-02-07T08:34:40","modified_gmt":"2025-02-07T08:34:40","slug":"chris-mason-starmer-goes-nuclear-in-hunt-for-long-term-growth","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/260web.com\/news\/chris-mason-starmer-goes-nuclear-in-hunt-for-long-term-growth\/","title":{"rendered":"Chris Mason: Starmer goes nuclear in hunt for long-term growth"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Chris Mason: Starmer goes nuclear in hunt for long-term growth<\/p>\n<div data-component=\"image-block\" class=\"ssrcss-1qlkdz0-ComponentWrapper-FullWidthWrapper ey0461q0\">\n<figure class=\"ssrcss-1vfya96-StyledFigure e34k3c22\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-ab5fd8-StyledFigureContainer e34k3c21\"><span class=\"ssrcss-lg1abe-Placeholder etlorgc0\"><picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/240\/cpsprodpb\/f301\/live\/2f340930-e4ce-11ef-8bcd-cd2cf38bb11e.jpg.webp 240w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/320\/cpsprodpb\/f301\/live\/2f340930-e4ce-11ef-8bcd-cd2cf38bb11e.jpg.webp 320w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/480\/cpsprodpb\/f301\/live\/2f340930-e4ce-11ef-8bcd-cd2cf38bb11e.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/624\/cpsprodpb\/f301\/live\/2f340930-e4ce-11ef-8bcd-cd2cf38bb11e.jpg.webp 624w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/800\/cpsprodpb\/f301\/live\/2f340930-e4ce-11ef-8bcd-cd2cf38bb11e.jpg.webp 800w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/976\/cpsprodpb\/f301\/live\/2f340930-e4ce-11ef-8bcd-cd2cf38bb11e.jpg.webp 976w\" type=\"image\/webp\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Keir Starmer and Ed Miliband wearing white coats talking to staff at the National Nuclear Laboratory facility \" src=\"https:\/\/260web.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/i3n9Xz.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/240\/cpsprodpb\/f301\/live\/2f340930-e4ce-11ef-8bcd-cd2cf38bb11e.jpg 240w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/320\/cpsprodpb\/f301\/live\/2f340930-e4ce-11ef-8bcd-cd2cf38bb11e.jpg 320w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/480\/cpsprodpb\/f301\/live\/2f340930-e4ce-11ef-8bcd-cd2cf38bb11e.jpg 480w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/624\/cpsprodpb\/f301\/live\/2f340930-e4ce-11ef-8bcd-cd2cf38bb11e.jpg 624w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/800\/cpsprodpb\/f301\/live\/2f340930-e4ce-11ef-8bcd-cd2cf38bb11e.jpg 800w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/976\/cpsprodpb\/f301\/live\/2f340930-e4ce-11ef-8bcd-cd2cf38bb11e.jpg 976w\" width=\"3840\" height=\"2159.2187037585086\" class=\"ssrcss-11yxrdo-Image edrdn950\"><\/picture><\/span><span role=\"text\" class=\"ssrcss-tvuve5-StyledFigureCopyright e34k3c20\">PA<\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div data-component=\"byline-block\" class=\"ssrcss-1hbb5i-BylineComponentWrapper e8mq1e90\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-qt5zqv-BylineWrapper e19uhciu17\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-h3c0s8-ContributorContainer e19uhciu16\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-1u2in0b-Container-ContributorDetails e19uhciu13\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-68pt20-Text-TextContributorName e19uhciu6\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-1q14p6q-LinkWithChevronContainer e19uhciu0\"><span class=\"byline-link-text\">Chris Mason<\/span><span class=\"ssrcss-182tgvb-IconContainer-IconContainerChevron e19uhciu3\"><svg viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" width=\"1em\" height=\"1em\" class=\"ssrcss-xi5oyi-StyledIcon e161cein1\" focusable=\"false\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path d=\"M21.6 14.3 5.5 31h6.4l14.6-15L11.9 1H5.5l16.1 16.7z\" \/><\/svg><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-84ltp5-Text e19uhciu10\">Political editor<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-84ltp5-Text e19uhciu10\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-1q14p6q-LinkWithChevronContainer e19uhciu0\"><span class=\"byline-link-text\">@ChrisMasonBBC<\/span><span class=\"ssrcss-1b62ywz-IconContainer-IconContainerChevron e19uhciu3\"><svg viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" width=\"1em\" height=\"1em\" class=\"ssrcss-xi5oyi-StyledIcon e161cein1\" focusable=\"false\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path d=\"M21.6 14.3 5.5 31h6.4l14.6-15L11.9 1H5.5l16.1 16.7z\" \/><\/svg><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-1p5zx6c-Container e19uhciu14\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-10jchsn-Text-TextItalic e19uhciu7\"><strong>Reporting from<\/strong><\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-rn7xsk-Text-LocationText e19uhciu8\"><span class=\"ssrcss-15fq616-IconContainer e19uhciu4\"><svg viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" width=\"1em\" height=\"1em\" class=\"ssrcss-xi5oyi-StyledIcon e161cein1\" focusable=\"false\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path d=\"M12.3 11c0 2.1 1.7 3.7 3.7 3.7s3.7-1.7 3.7-3.7-1.6-3.7-3.7-3.7S12.3 9 12.3 11m2.9 20c-3-4.4-5.6-8.5-7.3-12.1-1.5-3-2.1-5.6-2.1-7.9C5.7 5.5 10.1 1 16 1s10.3 4.6 10.3 10c0 2.3-.7 4.9-2.1 7.9-1.7 3.6-4.3 7.7-7.3 12.1z\" \/><\/svg><\/span>Preston<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-jlwt2c-Divider e19uhciu15\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-component=\"metadata-block\" class=\"ssrcss-xza2yt-ComponentWrapper ep2nwvo1\">\n<div>\n<ul role=\"list\" class=\"ssrcss-1ik71mx-MetadataStripContainer eh44mf03\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-13nu8ri-GroupChildrenForWrapping eh44mf02\">\n<li role=\"listitem\" class=\"ssrcss-30fcoe-MetadataStripItem eh44mf01\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-m5j4pi-MetadataContent eh44mf00\"><span class=\"ssrcss-1pvwv4b-MetadataSnippet e4wm5bw3\"><span class=\"ssrcss-1if1g9v-MetadataText e4wm5bw1\"><time data-testid=\"timestamp\" datetime=\"2025-02-06T21:49:57.575Z\">6 February 2025<\/time><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/div>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-component=\"text-block\" class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\"><b class=\"ssrcss-1xjjfut-BoldText e5tfeyi3\">There is a constant beeping sound as we are led through the building.<\/b><\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">A sign on the wall marks the &#8220;Toxic Release Assembly Point,&#8221; another sign with arrows is marked the &#8220;Criticality Run.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">I am at the UK National Nuclear Laboratory in Preston in Lancashire, so you would expect the security and safety protocols to be rigorous.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">The prime minister and the Energy Secretary Ed Miliband are here too.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">The nuclear scientists I talk to are full of enthusiasm and passion; a sense they are researching a future of carbon-free energy with a transformational capacity.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">They are doing exciting work on potential cancer treatments too.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">But critics fret about safety, cost and nuclear waste \u2013 it is a sector with sceptics to convince after the disasters at Chernobyl in Ukraine in 1986 and Fukushima in Japan in 2011.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-component=\"text-block\" class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">And we have been here before \u2013 promises made about a nuclear future that fail to materialise: The timeframes of nuclear projects are much longer than parliamentary cycles and governments with small majorities can be put off by controversy.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">Will it really be any different this time around \u2013 and should it be?<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">Sir Keir Starmer expresses his irritation that the UK&#8217;s nuclear capacity has shrivelled, despite its world-beating start.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">Calder Hall in Cumbria was the first nuclear power station in the world to produce electricity for domestic use when it opened in 1956.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">Twenty-one reactors were built in the UK in the ten years after that.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">But the last nuclear plant to open was 30 years ago: Sizewell B in Suffolk.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">And when it did, protesters locked themselves to its gates.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">And already, three decades on, the opponents are sharpening their arguments.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">&#8220;It doesn&#8217;t have a 100% record of safety in the UK. The nuclear industry is working amongst the most deadly materials known to mankind,&#8221; Richard Outram from Nuclear Free Local Authorities told us.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-component=\"links-block\" class=\"ssrcss-12l5xzx-LinksComponentWrapper e3eyuya0\">\n<section class=\"ssrcss-msolhr-LinksWrapper e3eyuya5\">\n<ul role=\"list\" class=\"ssrcss-1y914pf-InContentLinksGrid e3eyuya3\">\n<li class=\"ssrcss-r2yl4r-PromoItem e3eyuya1\">\n<div data-testid=\"promo\" class=\"ssrcss-s1qr4x-Promo e1vyq2e80\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-1enzf19-PromoCompact e18gnqux0\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-1d68cot-PromoContent exn3ah99\">\n<div spacing=\"2\" class=\"ssrcss-1f3bvyz-Stack e1y4nx260\"><span role=\"text\"><\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1sen9vx-PromoHeadline exn3ah96\"><span aria-hidden=\"false\">&#8216;Build baby build&#8217;, says PM as he sets out nuclear plan<\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/span><\/div>\n<div spacing=\"2\" class=\"ssrcss-1f3bvyz-Stack e1y4nx260\">\n<div>\n<ul role=\"list\" class=\"ssrcss-1ik71mx-MetadataStripContainer eh44mf03\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-13nu8ri-GroupChildrenForWrapping eh44mf02\">\n<li role=\"listitem\" class=\"ssrcss-30fcoe-MetadataStripItem eh44mf01\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-m5j4pi-MetadataContent eh44mf00\"><span class=\"ssrcss-1pvwv4b-MetadataSnippet e4wm5bw3\"><span class=\"ssrcss-1if1g9v-MetadataText e4wm5bw1\">12 hours ago<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/div>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"ssrcss-r2yl4r-PromoItem e3eyuya1\">\n<div data-testid=\"promo\" class=\"ssrcss-s1qr4x-Promo e1vyq2e80\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-1enzf19-PromoCompact e18gnqux0\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-1d68cot-PromoContent exn3ah99\">\n<div spacing=\"2\" class=\"ssrcss-1f3bvyz-Stack e1y4nx260\"><span role=\"text\"><\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1sen9vx-PromoHeadline exn3ah96\"><span aria-hidden=\"false\">Is nuclear power gaining new energy?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/span><\/div>\n<div spacing=\"2\" class=\"ssrcss-1f3bvyz-Stack e1y4nx260\">\n<div>\n<ul role=\"list\" class=\"ssrcss-1ik71mx-MetadataStripContainer eh44mf03\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-13nu8ri-GroupChildrenForWrapping eh44mf02\">\n<li role=\"listitem\" class=\"ssrcss-30fcoe-MetadataStripItem eh44mf01\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-m5j4pi-MetadataContent eh44mf00\"><span class=\"ssrcss-1pvwv4b-MetadataSnippet e4wm5bw3\"><span class=\"ssrcss-1if1g9v-MetadataText e4wm5bw1\">21 November 2024<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/div>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"ssrcss-r2yl4r-PromoItem e3eyuya1\">\n<div data-testid=\"promo\" class=\"ssrcss-s1qr4x-Promo e1vyq2e80\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-1enzf19-PromoCompact e18gnqux0\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-1d68cot-PromoContent exn3ah99\">\n<div spacing=\"2\" class=\"ssrcss-1f3bvyz-Stack e1y4nx260\"><span role=\"text\"><\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1sen9vx-PromoHeadline exn3ah96\"><span aria-hidden=\"false\">Reactor installed at UK&#8217;s newest nuclear power station<\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/span><\/div>\n<div spacing=\"2\" class=\"ssrcss-1f3bvyz-Stack e1y4nx260\">\n<div>\n<ul role=\"list\" class=\"ssrcss-1ik71mx-MetadataStripContainer eh44mf03\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-13nu8ri-GroupChildrenForWrapping eh44mf02\">\n<li role=\"listitem\" class=\"ssrcss-30fcoe-MetadataStripItem eh44mf01\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-m5j4pi-MetadataContent eh44mf00\"><span class=\"ssrcss-1pvwv4b-MetadataSnippet e4wm5bw3\"><span class=\"ssrcss-1if1g9v-MetadataText e4wm5bw1\">4 December 2024<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/div>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<div data-component=\"text-block\" class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">Central to the prime minister&#8217;s diagnosis of the country&#8217;s wider economic malaise is an argument grounded in our collective failure to get stuff built.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">He argues that the checks and balances of our democracy, such as impact assessments and judicial reviews, have taken on so many layers that they end up gumming up the likelihood of getting anything signed off.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">In other words, so the argument goes, there is a collective in-built bias towards doing nothing.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">Liberalising the rules around nuclear power stations in England and Wales is the latest case study in trying to turn that around.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">The idea is these so-called small modular reactors could be sited in a far wider range of places than current or past nuclear power stations.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">For instance, they have all been located on the coast, because of the volume of water required nearby for cooling.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">The new generation of power stations would still need water but much less of it: A nearby river or lake would suffice.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-component=\"text-block\" class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">Ministers are also going to make it easier for them to get planning consent too.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">That means it is less likely those arguing against such a plant being built down the road from them would be able to stop it.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">The government, as one senior figure put it to me, is trying to &#8220;squeeze what we can out of our majority.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">Contentious, even unpopular stuff will likely clear the Commons, even with a cohort of Labour grumblers.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">Incidentally, while the Liberal Democrats argue the focus right now should be on renewable energy, both Reform UK and the Conservatives back the government&#8217;s approach.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">There is an otherworldly element to nuclear power.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">Many of us can relate to oil and gas: Filling up the car, putting a pan on the hob.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">But being handed a drinks can with the label &#8220;if nuclear energy powered your entire life \u2013 the fuel would fit inside this&#8221; is mind bending.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-component=\"image-block\" class=\"ssrcss-1qlkdz0-ComponentWrapper-FullWidthWrapper ey0461q0\">\n<figure class=\"ssrcss-1vfya96-StyledFigure e34k3c22\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-ab5fd8-StyledFigureContainer e34k3c21\"><span class=\"ssrcss-6ybo2z-Placeholder etlorgc0\"><picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/240\/cpsprodpb\/4d5c\/live\/9ce91960-e4cf-11ef-8bcd-cd2cf38bb11e.jpg.webp 240w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/320\/cpsprodpb\/4d5c\/live\/9ce91960-e4cf-11ef-8bcd-cd2cf38bb11e.jpg.webp 320w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/480\/cpsprodpb\/4d5c\/live\/9ce91960-e4cf-11ef-8bcd-cd2cf38bb11e.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/624\/cpsprodpb\/4d5c\/live\/9ce91960-e4cf-11ef-8bcd-cd2cf38bb11e.jpg.webp 624w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/800\/cpsprodpb\/4d5c\/live\/9ce91960-e4cf-11ef-8bcd-cd2cf38bb11e.jpg.webp 800w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/976\/cpsprodpb\/4d5c\/live\/9ce91960-e4cf-11ef-8bcd-cd2cf38bb11e.jpg.webp 976w\" type=\"image\/webp\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Two cans reading: &quot;United Kingdom National Nuclear Laboratory&quot; and &quot;If nuclear energy powered your entire life - the fuel would fit inside this can&quot;\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/260web.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/bJrzJv.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/240\/cpsprodpb\/4d5c\/live\/9ce91960-e4cf-11ef-8bcd-cd2cf38bb11e.jpg 240w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/320\/cpsprodpb\/4d5c\/live\/9ce91960-e4cf-11ef-8bcd-cd2cf38bb11e.jpg 320w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/480\/cpsprodpb\/4d5c\/live\/9ce91960-e4cf-11ef-8bcd-cd2cf38bb11e.jpg 480w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/624\/cpsprodpb\/4d5c\/live\/9ce91960-e4cf-11ef-8bcd-cd2cf38bb11e.jpg 624w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/800\/cpsprodpb\/4d5c\/live\/9ce91960-e4cf-11ef-8bcd-cd2cf38bb11e.jpg 800w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/976\/cpsprodpb\/4d5c\/live\/9ce91960-e4cf-11ef-8bcd-cd2cf38bb11e.jpg 976w\" width=\"3840\" height=\"2160.2742857142857\" class=\"ssrcss-11yxrdo-Image edrdn950\"><\/picture><\/span><span role=\"text\" class=\"ssrcss-tvuve5-StyledFigureCopyright e34k3c20\">PA Media<\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div data-component=\"text-block\" class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">And then there is the safety stuff again.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">It is telling that when the government tries to go out of its way to address these concerns, in so doing it tacitly acknowledges how deep the concerns of some go.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">The notes they sent us before the prime minister&#8217;s visit set out that &#8220;nuclear plants are designed with multiple layers of safety measures including making them robust enough to withstand a direct aircraft impact.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">Ministers hope the first of these new nuclear power stations could be keeping your lights on by 2032.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">So they are far from an instant panacea for our economic woes.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">But the government appears determined to have long-term horizons while simultaneously attempting to project a spirit of economic dynamism, when the economy itself is anything but.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">The question now is if this time new nuclear power plants do actually get built.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-component=\"image-block\" class=\"ssrcss-1qlkdz0-ComponentWrapper-FullWidthWrapper ey0461q0\">\n<figure class=\"ssrcss-1vfya96-StyledFigure e34k3c22\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-ab5fd8-StyledFigureContainer e34k3c21\"><span class=\"ssrcss-10dbsxs-Placeholder etlorgc0\"><picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/240\/cpsprodpb\/207c\/live\/d0ad5b80-e4cf-11ef-a319-fb4e7360c4ec.png.webp 240w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/320\/cpsprodpb\/207c\/live\/d0ad5b80-e4cf-11ef-a319-fb4e7360c4ec.png.webp 320w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/480\/cpsprodpb\/207c\/live\/d0ad5b80-e4cf-11ef-a319-fb4e7360c4ec.png.webp 480w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/624\/cpsprodpb\/207c\/live\/d0ad5b80-e4cf-11ef-a319-fb4e7360c4ec.png.webp 624w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/800\/cpsprodpb\/207c\/live\/d0ad5b80-e4cf-11ef-a319-fb4e7360c4ec.png.webp 800w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/976\/cpsprodpb\/207c\/live\/d0ad5b80-e4cf-11ef-a319-fb4e7360c4ec.png.webp 976w\" type=\"image\/webp\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Thin, red banner promoting the Politics Essential newsletter with text saying, \u201cGet the latest political analysis and big moments, delivered straight to your inbox every weekday\u201d. There is also an image of the Houses of Parliament.\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/260web.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/wnXMSQ.png\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/240\/cpsprodpb\/207c\/live\/d0ad5b80-e4cf-11ef-a319-fb4e7360c4ec.png 240w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/320\/cpsprodpb\/207c\/live\/d0ad5b80-e4cf-11ef-a319-fb4e7360c4ec.png 320w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/480\/cpsprodpb\/207c\/live\/d0ad5b80-e4cf-11ef-a319-fb4e7360c4ec.png 480w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/624\/cpsprodpb\/207c\/live\/d0ad5b80-e4cf-11ef-a319-fb4e7360c4ec.png 624w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/800\/cpsprodpb\/207c\/live\/d0ad5b80-e4cf-11ef-a319-fb4e7360c4ec.png 800w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/976\/cpsprodpb\/207c\/live\/d0ad5b80-e4cf-11ef-a319-fb4e7360c4ec.png 976w\" width=\"1600\" height=\"263\" class=\"ssrcss-11yxrdo-Image edrdn950\"><\/picture><\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div data-component=\"text-block\" class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">Sign up for our Politics Essential newsletter to read top political analysis, gain insight from across the UK and stay up to speed with the big moments. It&#8217;ll be delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"piano-inline1\"><\/div>\n<div data-component=\"topic-list\" class=\"ssrcss-1qmkvfu-TopicListWrapper etw6iwl1\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-113c0cq-StyledTagContainer ed0g1kj1\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-50vlbt-TopicListHeaderWrapper etw6iwl0\">\n<h2 type=\"normal\" class=\"ssrcss-ad2rmd-Heading e10rt3ze0\">Related topics<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-17ehax8-Cluster e1ihwmse1\">\n<ul role=\"list\" spacing=\"2\" class=\"ssrcss-1ujonwb-ClusterItems e1ihwmse0\">\n<li>Keir Starmer<\/li>\n<li>Nuclear power<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Published at Thu, 06 Feb 2025 21:49:57 +0000<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Chris Mason: Starmer goes nuclear in hunt for long-term growth PA Chris Mason Political editor @ChrisMasonBBC Reporting from Preston 6 February 2025 There is a constant beeping sound as we are led through the building. A sign on the wall marks the &#8220;Toxic Release Assembly Point,&#8221; another sign with arrows is marked the &#8220;Criticality Run.&#8221;&hellip; <a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/260web.com\/news\/chris-mason-starmer-goes-nuclear-in-hunt-for-long-term-growth\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Chris Mason: Starmer goes nuclear in hunt for long-term growth<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3120,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3121","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uk-politics","entry"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/260web.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3121","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/260web.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/260web.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/260web.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/260web.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3121"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/260web.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3121\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/260web.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3120"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/260web.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3121"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/260web.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3121"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/260web.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3121"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}