ANNOUNCEMENT PLUMMETS UK INTO DARK NUCLEAR ERA - LIZ LYNNE MEP

12.00.00am GMT Thu 10th Jan 2008

A West Midlands region LibDem Euro MP has hit out at government approval for the building of new nuclear power stations, citing cost and safety concerns.

Commenting today, Liz Lynne said:

"This announcement is a bitter blow; focusing on new nuclear plants will undermine attempts to find a cleaner, greener, more sustainable and secure solution"

"I am deeply sceptical over nuclear power because of ongoing safety risks and the legacy of harmful waste it leaves behind, whereas no such drawbacks exist with renewable energy."

"The government should be promoting and supporting carbon capture and storage, along with renewable energy, as a safe, secure and flexible ways of plugging the energy gap; instead, we've been plummeted into a dark new nuclear era thanks to an incompetent government and its sham consultation."

ENDS