20/9/2006

Lembit Opik, Leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats, told the Loib Dem conference at Brighton that Wales should have the right to say no to Tony Blair's nuclear plans.

"We now have at least 470,000m3 of hazardous nuclear waste in this country for which we have no disposal plans, enough to fill the Brighton Conference Hall 22 times," said Mr Opik.

"And there could b't sure exactly how much nuclear waste we have. Recently, they admitted that an additional 1,200 cubic metres of radioactive sludge had been found in part of Sellafield.

"Both the Tories and Labour are responsible for this radioactive mountain. Since 1976 successive Governments have spent twelve times more money on nuclear energy than on renewable energy.

"Now Tony Blair looks set to repeat the mistakes of the past and build a new generation of nuclear power plants, adding to our enormous stockpile of nuclear waste.
" Wales should have the right to say no to Tony Blair's nuclear plans. Because of their extra powers, the Scottish Parliament can say no to nuclear. It's ridiculous that Wales doesn't have this power.

"Instead of going nuclear again we should be looking to radically overhaul our energy system by focusing on energy conservation, microgeneration and renewable energy. Instead of being walked down the nuclear path by this reactionary Labour Government, Wales should be aiming to become a world leader in renewable energy and green industry."