25 May (NucNet): Voters of all three main political parties in the UK support nuclear power and are in favour of changes to the planning system to make it easier to build new nuclear plants, according to a poll carried out for EDF Energy.
Nearly two thirds (64 percent) of all voters say nuclear power is needed as part of a balanced energy source for the UK, according to the poll.
The poll of 4,300 people revealed strong support among voters of all three major political parties, including the Liberal Democrats, who have traditionally been against nuclear energy.
Nearly three out of every five Liberal Democrat voters (58 percent) believe nuclear energy needs to be part of the future energy balance, compared with just 15 percent opposed. That compares with the support of 74 percent of Conservative voters and 64 percent of Labour voters.
There is also support across the political spectrum to reform planning regulations to build new nuclear stations, with 48 percent agreeing and 18 percent disagreeing.
EDF Energy plans to build four new nuclear reactors in the UK, with two at Hinkley Point in Somerset and two at Sizewell in Suffolk.
John McNamara, spokesman for the UK’s Nuclear Industry Association, said the poll reflected the NIA’s own annual public opinion survey into attitudes to nuclear power.
>>Related reports in the NucNet database (available to subscribers)
UK Names 10 Sites As ‘Potentially Suitable’ For New Nuclear By 2025 (News No. 83, 9 November 2009)
New UK Planning Body Expects Two Nuclear Plant Applications In 2010 (News in Brief No. 135, 22 October 2009)
New UK Coalition Agrees To Prepare For New Build (News in Brief No. 84, 12 May 2010)
