Nuclear – Page 11

Tom Burke’s political commentary: Nuclear companies open new front in fight for government subsidies

On July 28, 2010March 30, 2012 By admin

ENDS Report 426, p. 60, July 2010. Beware of calls from the nuclear industry for a ‘level playing field’. What it wants is anything but. Tony Benn, when he was energy secretary, used to warn about people who came to you with a problem in one hand and a solution […]

Tom Burke’s Political Commentary: Nuclear renaissance will fail without public trust

On May 11, 2009April 11, 2012 By admin

Published in ENDS Report (Issue 412, p39), in May 2009. The current political crisis is more than a passing storm in the weather of events that politicians endure daily. To govern successfully in a parliamentary democracy they must possess both legitimacy and authority. The authority stems from the confidence of […]

The furture will not be nuclear

On September 28, 2008March 13, 2012 By admin

Published in Prospect Magazine, Issue 150, on 28th September 2008. The government is pinning its hopes on a nuclear renaissance to meet Britain’s climate change goals. Planning procedures are being eased and hidden subsidies offered. But the policy is based on a misunderstanding of nuclear power’s lousy economics, and will […]

Economics freezes nuclear frisson

On April 17, 2008March 13, 2012 By admin

‘View from the top’, published in Research Europe, April 2008. During last month’s state visit to Britain by French President Nicolas Sarkozy an entente formidable was proudly declared. One of the strongest ligatures in this new entente is to be close cooperation to make Europe the leader in a global drive […]

Too chic to meter? France’s relationship with nuclear power

On January 28, 2008March 13, 2012 By admin

Published in The House Magazine 39, on 28th January 2008. ‘Why can’t we be more like the French?’ is not a cry often heard from British politicians. But such is the capacity of nuclear power to confuse otherwise rational people, that this plea has been heard a lot of late […]

The facts are not with him

On May 18, 2006March 13, 2012 By admin

Published in The Guardian, on 18th May 2006. The prime minister has a taste for pre-emptive strikes and dodgy dossiers. He pre-empted his own white paper on energy policy with the energy review. He has now pre-empted the review by declaring that Britain needs new nuclear power stations. In so […]

Understanding Wicks: a handy guide

On January 1, 2006April 12, 2012 By admin

Written for publication in January 2006. On January 23rd. the Guardian ran a long interview with Energy Minister, Malcolm Wicks. This is a handy guide to the interpretation of his remarks. The Minster believes ‘there are virtually no practical obstacles to a new generation of nuclear power stations being built’ […]

The power and the unglory

On November 30, 2005March 13, 2012 By admin

Published in The Guardian, on 30th November 2005. First, a panic is whipped up. Then there are denials that a decision has been taken. The dodgy dossier comes next. Later, the long-made decision is announced. Then we discover there was no reason to panic. Then we find ourselves in a […]

The Nuclear Debate

On October 17, 2005March 13, 2012 By admin

In a two-part debate for the BBC News website, the Vice President of the Royal Society, Sir David Wallace, and I discuss whether or not a new generation of nuclear reactors should be built in the UK. Published Monday 17th October, 2005. Follow the links below for the full debates: […]

Coal, not nuclear, is the new black

On July 1, 2005March 13, 2012 By admin

Published in Inside Track, the quarterly magazine of Green Alliance, Issue 11, Summer 2005. You could have beeen forgiven for thinking that nuclear power was back in fashion. After the general election a barrage of headlines, column inches and sound bites heralded the return of nuclear power as an option […]