MPs should keep their promises - not back £1 billion windfall for nuclear power

A vote will happen in parliament either late tonight or tomorrow on government plans to hand out a whopping £1billion in new subsidies for the nuclear industry. The money will come from energy consumer pockets and will go to EDF and Centrica for doing absolutely nothing new at all.

Our volunteers have been meeting with their MPs across the country with a very simple request - keep your promises. All major parties stood at the general election promising not to allow new subsidies, and yet billions in hidden subsidies are planned by the Conservative lead coalition - obsessed with bailing out this badly damaged industry.

On the weekend the Guardian reported that the fault lines in the coalition over new nuclear power are widening by the day. The Lib Dems need to resist the frantic arm twisting of the Conservatives and show some of that 'muscular liberalism' promised by Nick Clegg. Every pound spent propping up the nuclear industry is a pound not invested in building our own home grown renewable energy sector powered by the wind, sun and waves.

MPs should think twice about new hand outs for nuclear power, particularly after last week's expose, also in the Guardian. Through a Freedom of Information request the Guardian obtained email correspondence that shows the government has been colluding with the nuclear industry to down play the Fukushima disaster in order to keep their plans for new reactors on track. Only two days after the earthquake and tsunami knocked out the nuclear plant and the extent of the disaster was unknown.

Labour has tabled an amendment to stop the subsidy plan, and this will be MP's first opportunity to oppose the new subsidies.  We'll be watching to see if they stickl to their promises. We'll keep you posted on what is set to be a long running drama.

In the meantime if you would like to get involved lobbying in your area, join your local group or sign up to our lobbying network.