JUDGE RIGHT TO OVERTURN NUCLEAR DECISION - TIERNEY

Welcoming the High Court decision to overturn the Government's decision to build more nuclear power stations, Serena Tierney, Lib Dem parliamentary spokesman for Mid Sussex, said:

"I am delighted. This great result means the Government will have to consult properly about the full implications of a new generation of nuclear reactors.

You cannot perform a U-turn on nuclear power, as Tony Blair did between the last two government statements on energy policy, without a proper debate and a full discussion of the options.The full economic and environmental costs, as well as the security risk, need to be taken into account.

"It is also the clearest possible rejection of the style of government from which we have suffered so badly in Mid Sussex. Both the Tory-led District Council and the local health trusts use the same technique. They make a decision and then go through a phony 'consultation' exercise. It is a shame that we have to rely on judges to force those in power to take account of what people really want. "

NOTES:

1. Mr Justice Sullivan today made an order in judicial review proceedings brought by Greenpeace overturning ('quashing') the government's decision to order a new generation of nuclear power stations. The government (Alistair Darling) has said that it will now consult again in line with the judge's findings.

2. When the government published its energy White Paper in 2003, it called for massive reductions in CO2 emissions, a huge boost to renewables like solar, wind and tidal power, and energy efficiency programmes. But it also ruled out building new nuclear power stations to replace existing ones coming to the end of their lives, stating nuclear was an "unattractive option". In 2006 it announced following a 'public consultation' that it had changed its mind and decided to order new nuclear power stations.

3. Liberal Democrat policy is to oppose nuclear power, on the grounds it would crowd out investment in alternatives and that no satisfactory means of dealing with nuclear waste yet exist.