Whatever ones opinion on nuclear power, one thing that is known is that it's bloody expensive. This is largely why most nuclear energy programmes are backed by massive Government subsidy. When the Government tells us what it is going to do, it's almost guaranteed that it will cost us, the taxpayer, a fair penny. Would we expect any less from Gordon?
The question is who will run any potentially new nuclear power stations? Will it be British Energy? Or might Brown decide to have one of his favourite PFI schemes? In which case, might the UK arm of the French company EDF Energy find themselves getting a good deal? After all, they do run quite a few of the nuclear power stations in France so they have lots of experience. Purely coincidentally and a point of interest, they also have a Head of Media Relations by the name of Andrew Brown (who apparently has a famous brother).
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EDF will be contending for a slice of the UK's Nuclear Pie. From the Telegraph:
several utilities are salivating at the prospect of taking part in Britain's expected nuclear renaissance, which could reap billions of pounds of profits in years to come. The main contenders are France's EDF, which operates London Electricity...
Perhaps Andrew can use his Media talents and help his Bruv persuade the UK taxpayer, just what a Splended thing it will be them to subsidise his Nuclear business.
One of the reactor designers will be Westinghouse which was sold by Gordon Brown to Toshiba last year for a one off Tax Gain, somewhat akin to him selling off our Gold reserves at the Bottom of the market.
If we are going to go nuclear (again) we need to make sure we get the structures right this time. It was a lot easier when everything was run by the state but of course it isn't now.
Parliament should set out the funding formula and then companies with the safety record and technology should be allowed to apply to build stations. We should look at how other nuclear nations (France, Finland) organise things before we decide to go nuclear while there's no PM to take responsibility.
Should they get the work if they offer the best VFM or should the chancellor's kinship disqualify the great british public from getting the best deal? I think THAT would be a scandal! Though, naturally I'm moderately against more nukes, being a lefty.
EDF is a very nasty company, as anyone who has lived in France will tell you. I was contemplating moving back to France and made the decision not to based solely on the behaviour of EDF.
New Labour, the Brown strain at least, is closely related to the Nuclear Industry.
Not only only is Gordon Brown's little Brother Head of Media for EDF. Yvette Cooper's dad aka Ed Ball's Father in Law is on the board of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority and former chairman of the Nuclear Industry Association.
I think it safe to assume that whatever the financial cost of a New Nuclear Power programe, it is going to go ahead anyway. Who needs a Nuclear Lobby when the family can do it for you?
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