Liddell-Grainger must make Tory policy on nuclear power clear

12.00.00pm GMT Sat 5th Dec 2009

Theo Butt Philip, Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate for Bridgwater and West Somerset, has written to the constituency's current MP asking for clarification the Conservative Party's position on nuclear power.

Mr Liddell-Grainger has previously been supportive of nuclear power, however comments by Zac Goldsmith, the Conservative parliamentary candidate for Richmond Park and one of David Cameron's most senior advisors on the environment, have brought the Conservative's policy on nuclear power into question.

As speech by Zac Goldsmith on 30th November 2009 has been reported in the Guardian as follows:

Presaging a Tory row to come, he predicted that if the party sticks to its existing policy, it would never allow the building of a new nuclear power station.

He said Tory policy "was to give a green light to nuclear power as long as there is no call on the taxpayer, not just in terms of building, but maintenance, security and disposal of waste.. In the history of nuclear power there has never been a station built without huge use of taxpayers' subsidy".

Theo Butt Philip said:

"I am concerned that the Conservative Party's policy on this issue is now far from clear.

"Whilst I oppose the building of a new generation of nuclear reactors, Mr Liddell-Grainger has previously been

supportive; this now appears to be at odds with what one of his senior colleagues is saying.

"I have asked Mr Liddell-Grainger to clarify his position."