Barry Gardiner MP, Labour’s Shadow Energy Secretary, responding to EDF’s final investment decision on the Hinkley Point C nuclear power station today, said: 

“EDF have mismanaged the Hinkley project; but the Government has mismanaged the public interest in it. 

“They committed to paying a price for 35 years that was far too high when the cost of other low carbon energy from solar & wind has been falling to record lows. Now the Government has had to admit that bill payers will pay an extra £24billion on top.

“This project is already eight years delayed, it still has serious technical problems and the Government has no assurance that it will be producing power by 2025 when coal is no longer supplying what we need. The Government should insist on a taper so that customers pay less for any further delay.

“Labour is clear that there is a role for new nuclear as part of our future low carbon infrastructure; but not at any price. The Government’s failure to get a grip of the public interest here shows a startling level of incompetence.”