Union slams “incomprehensible” Hinkley delay

Government’s decision to review its commitments to the Hinkley Point C new nuclear project has been called “chaotic" and potentially disastrous” by the union Prospect.

Shortly after EDF announced its long awaited final investment decision in favour of Hinkley, a statement from Greg Clark, secretary of state for the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy said: “The government will now consider carefully all the component parts of this project and make its decision in the early autumn.”

Government had been expected to sign a deal with EDF immediately.

Prospect deputy director general Garry Graham said that the surprise delay is “incomprehensible”.

“At best the decision looks chaotic,” he said. “At worst it appears that UK government is not a reliable or trustworthy partner.”

Graham also expressed concerns about the implications of a delay to Hinkley Point C for UK energy security.

“Energy margins continue to decline – we are already asking intensive users to come off supply at periods of peak demand and relying on polluting diesel generation to keep the lights on,” he said.

“It is not only 25,000 high-quality jobs that are at risk, but the UK’s ability to keep the lights on and meet our climate change targets.”

Leaders at other unions echoed Prospect’s concerns. Justin Bowden, national secretary for energy at the union GMB said the decision was “bewildering and bonkers. After years of procrastination, what is required is decisive action not dithering and more delay. This unnecessary hesitation is putting finance for the project in doubt and 25,000 new jobs at risk immediately after Brexit. It is a gross error of judgement and must be reversed.”