Nuclear power to get green light despite legal challenge

[bananas]

"Britain's top nuclear energy economist, who recently headed a key government advisory committee, has demolished the case for the atom and lent his support to the legal action."

http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/politics/article3293982.ece

Nuclear power to get green light despite legal challenge
By Brian Brady and Geoffrey Lean
Published: 30 December 2007

Ministers are expected formally to back a new generation of nuclear power stations in Britain, in defiance of a fresh legal challenge from environmentalists and a damaging revolt from Labour backbenchers. Gordon Brown's first cabinet meeting of the new year is due to nod through the decision next week, and John Hutton, Secretary of State for Business and Enterprise, is expected to confirm it to the House of Commons on 7 January when MPs return from their Christmas break.

But Greenpeace, which overturned the Government's last attempt to usher in a new atomic age when a judge ruled that the decision-making process had been flawed, is confident of repeating the successful tactic. And Britain's top nuclear energy economist, who recently headed a key government advisory committee, has demolished the case for the atom and lent his support to the legal action.

Last night a senior source in Mr Hutton's department told The Independent on Sunday that the pro-nuclear decision, which follows a five-month public consultations, would be made "within days".

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The plan is also likely to run into opposition on the Government's back benches. One senior Labour MP said: "I will be voting against this at the first opportunity, and a lot of colleagues will do the same."