End to 'dithering' as Starmer commits to future of nuclear power

SIR Keir Starmer promised there would be no more “dithering” about backing nuclear power as the Government committed to the Sizewell C plant and development of new small modular reactors (SMRs).

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The Prime Minister said the “change of mindset” would help free the UK from reliance on international fossil fuel markets and prevent price spikes such as those in the wake of Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves signed off on £14.2billion of investment to build the new Sizewell C nuclear plant in Suffolk, while Rolls-Royce has been named as the preferred bidder to build SMRs in a programme backed by £2.5bn of taxpayers’ cash.

Speaking at a college in Ipswich, Sir Keir said successive governments had “dithered and delayed” over nuclear power. He said: “The last reactor was 1995, 30 years ago, and I think that was Sizewell B. So here, to put this down today, is really important. It’s not just an important decision for the future, it's a change of mindset.