The UK Cabinet 2005-06: Nuclear Views
Contents
The Pro-Nuclear Cabinet
The Cabinet is seen as pro-nuclear. In a study undertaken by The Times newspaper, of the 22 Cabinet members, some 19 are seen as broadly favourable with only Margaret Beckett; Peter Hain and Patricia Hewitt as undecided. [1]. The Times gave three stars if Cabinet members were "Committed" to nuclear power; two if they were "For" it and one if they were "Wary". The results were as follows:
TONY BLAIR ***
Believes all arguments point to nuclear power as answer to security of energy supply and lower carbon emissions
JOHN PRESCOTT (Deputy Prime Minister) **
Takes pragmatic view and believes energy gap must be met
GORDON BROWN (Chancellor) **
Believes potential longterm benefits outweigh costs but keen to seek consensus with green lobby
JACK STRAW (Foreign Secretary) **
Provided the Government's review makes a realistic case, he is likely to back it
MARGARET BECKETT (Environment Secretary) *
Persuadable. Important departmental voice on environmental side
ALISTAIR DARLING (Transport Secretary) **
Practical minister likely to support nuclear power if the case is made
JOHN REID (Defence Secretary) **
Heading separate consultation on Trident missiles, so likely to be keen
GEOFF HOON (Leader of the Commons) **
Familiar with nuclear issues as former Defence Secretary
PATRICIA HEWITT (Health Secretary) *
Deferred issue as Trade Secretary in 2003 White Paper. Wants more done on renewables
TESSA JOWELL (Culture Secretary) *
Loyalist likely to follow Blair's lead
HILARY ARMSTRONG (Chief Whip) **
Highly pragmatic and likely to side with nuclear power provided convincing case is put
CHARLES CLARKE (Home Secretary) **
Very interested in environmental issues but pragmatic in terms of national energy supply
PETER HAIN (Northern Ireland Secretary) *
Not opposed outright but chief concern is long-term cost (but see below)
IAN MCCARTNEY (Minister without Portfolio, Labour Party chairman) **
Will insist there is full debate among Labour members
BARONESS AMOS (Leader of the Lords) **
Will probably go with the majority view in Cabinet
LORD FALCONER OF THOROTON20(Lord Chancellor) **
Loyal to Blair. Likely to want to test the arguments
HILARY BENN (International Development Secretary) **
Utra-Blairite, likely to go with the tide
ALAN JOHNSON (Trade and Industry Secretary) **
Officially neutral but convinced nuclear is part of solution
RUTH KELLY (Education and Skills Secretary) **
Has enough on her plate with school reforms
JOHN HUTTON (Work and Pensions Secretary) ***
Champion of nuclear industry as MP for Barrow-in-Furness in Cumbria, where Trident submarines were built
DES BROWNE (Chief Secretary to the Treasury) **
Must satisfy himself on costs
DAVID MILIBAND (Minister of Communities and Local Government) **
Background in Downing Street policy unit suggests he is likely to be strongly in favour.
In November 2005, Margaret Beckett had to deny she was anti-nuclear, saying that "Nuclear power is a low-carbon energy source - no-one can dispute that, and it has a contribution to make." [2]
Peter Hain Breaks Ranks
Four months later, in March 2006, The Independent reported how Peter Hain had become the "first cabinet opponent of nuclear power to break ranks in public, arguing that new nuclear power stations would have 'vast' implications for security and unknown costs". Hain was quoted as saying that it would be "significantly preferable" to move towards renewable energy. [3]
Darling Sticks the Knife into Ming Over Renewables
Later that month, on the 28 March, Alistair Darling addressed the Scottish Renewables Forum in Glasgow. He made a hard-hitting attack on the Liberal Democrats' energy policy and vilified Sir Menzies Campbell's decision to rely on wind, wave and tidal power.
Darling said: "[The LibDems' policy] is an excuse not to face up to some tough decisions. We will need to look at all possible sources of generation, including nuclear energy. There is not going to be one solution which meets all our demands." Darling argued that renewables will never meet the country's energy requirements. [4]
External Links
- ^The Times, "The Nuclear Cabinet", November 23, 2005; not available online but pdf available here
- ^ Stephen Seawright,"Get a Grip on Nuclear Power, Says CBI Chief", The Daily Telegraph, November 21, 2005.
- ^ Ben Russell, "Hain Breaks Ranks to Oppose Nuclear Power", The Independent, March 21, 2006.
- ^ Catherine Maclead, "Darling Takes Aim at 'Simplistic' Plan for Green Energy", The Herald, March 27, 2006
