Labour are planning to build nuclear reactors creating thousands of jobs

The government are planning to build nuclear reactors and will reform planning rules to make the build easier.

Thousands of jobs will be produced and the Prime Minister has pledged to cut red tape to make the build easier.

The new reforms that Sir Keir Starmer will introduce will create a path for the small modular reactors (SMRs) to be built making energy more affordable.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said, “This country hasn’t built a nuclear power station in decades. We’ve been let down and left behind.

“Our energy security has been hostage to Putin for too long, with British prices skyrocketing at his whims.

“I’m putting an end to it – changing the rules to back the builders of this nation, and saying no to the blockers who have strangled our chances of cheaper energy, growth and jobs for far too long.”

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said: “Build, build, build – that is what Britain’s clean energy mission is all about.

“The British people have been left vulnerable to global energy markets for too long – and the only way out is to build our way to a new era of clean electricity.

“Nuclear power creating thousands of skilled jobs. That is what this Government will deliver.”

Tom Greatrex, chief executive of the Nuclear Industry Association, said: “This is the Prime Minister’s strongest signal yet that new nuclear is critical to the growth and clean power mission.

“A more streamlined planning system will give certainty to investors, the supply chain and communities, and will enable us to get on with building new nuclear plants on more sites and at pace for a cleaner, more secure power system.

“We need to make Britain the best possible place to build new nuclear, both large-scale and SMRs, which means avoiding unnecessary stumbling blocks and ensuring regulations are proportionate to our urgent need for low carbon power, energy security and good jobs.”

Chris Curtis MP, Co-Chair of Labour Growth Group said, “Under the Tories the UK became one of the most expensive countries in the world to build nuclear power in, driving up bills and putting our energy security at the mercy of Putin. That’s why the Labour Growth Group has been clear that removing the barriers to new nuclear should be an immediate priority for the Government.

“The Prime Minister’s bold and decisive action today will have a direct impact on both unleashing the potential of Small Modular Reactor (SMR) technology and supporting the delivery of new Gigawatt nuclear power plants.

“The Nuclear Regulatory Taskforce should rapidly examine the requirement for Regulatory Justification on each new SMR built, a duplicative process which could damage our chance to lead globally in this technology. It should also look quickly at encouraging the regulator to recognise the safety of Gigawatt reactor designs that have been approved by partner countries such as France and South Korea, where they are being built safely but far more quickly and cost effectively.”