LIB DEM CONFERENCE: Euro-MP calls to ban nuclear energy
September 22, 2003 10:58 AM
Speaking today at the Liberal Democrats Conference in Brighton, West Midlands Euro-MP Liz Lynne has called for the Party to retain its opposition to nuclear energy.
This afternoon, the Conference will be debating a new policy paper on energy. An amendment has been submitted that seeks to end the Liberal Democrats' longstanding commitment to phase out nuclear power stations, instead calling for them to be replaced as they reach the end of their safe operational lives.
Commenting, Liz said:
"Nuclear energy has been with us for fifty years now, yet worryingly we still have not come up with a way to safely dispose of the waste that it causes.
"Pro-nuclear enthusiasts are wrong to oversimplify the debate as a simple choice between nuclear and gas and coal generators that churn out Carbon Dioxide into the atmosphere. The real challenge is to radically increase the use of renewable energy sources such as wind, solar and wave power combined with drastic energy efficiency and reduction strategies.
"Energy policy must not simply be judged on environmental effects. It is also about social justice. Fuel poverty is a problem that affects thousands of old people. Better insulated homes save energy and save lives.
"Ultimately, we can waste billions of pounds trying to meet our energy demands through risky technologies such as nuclear fission, or we can invest that money into reducing that demand in the first place."
ENDS
Notes to editors:
Liz Lynne sat on a previous Liberal Democrat policy working group that first committed the party to phasing out nuclear power.
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