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Hinkley Point C has shaped the early reign of Theresa May as the British prime minister, almost as much as her handling of the Brexit question.
Calling for the government review of the deal, mere hours after EDF managed to convince its board members to make a final investment decision, was brave.
It reopened the debate over nuclear, the EPR reactor design, investor confidence, and the price of the deal struck between the government and EDF.
As the review rumbled on in the background, little was being given away as to which way it would go, although it emerged security concerns were at the heart of May’s worries.
Getting a government say in Hinkley, and a special share in future projects, is a canny move. While allowing the Somerset scheme to start reassures the global money men.
The timing of the decision is also a politics power play.
Thursday was the last day before recess for energy and business secretary Greg Clark and May to announce the green light in Parliament, meeting their own September deadline.
It also comes before the party conference season. The Conservatives are painting a picture of calm control, methodically pushing ahead with plans – like Hinkley – which claim to protect future stability. Calmness, confidence and assuredness are being exuded by May and her government.
Labour, on the other hand, without a clear identity or a plan for itself or the UK, seems to be in chaos.
One-nil to the Tories already.
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