Boris Johnson plans to sign off new £30bn nuclear plant in final week

Boris Johnson plans to sign off on new £30bn nuclear plant in his final week in power, sources say

Boris Johnson will call for an increase in Britain’s domestic energy production
He is also hoping to push through the planned Sizewell C nuclear power station
The new nuclear power station is expected to cost up to £30billion to build

Boris Johnson will call for a massive increase in Britain’s domestic energy production this week, as he signs off on funding for a new nuclear power station.

The Prime Minister is expected to use his final speech in office to insist that a lasting solution to the current energy crisis must include a massive scaling up of the UK’s domestic energy resources.

He is also hoping to push through a decision on funding for the planned new Sizewell C nuclear power station in Suffolk, which would help guarantee Britain’s energy security.

Ministers have agreed in principle to sign off on the Sizewell C plant, which is expected to cost up to £30billion to build.

Whitehall sources suggested that both Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak have been consulted on the deal, which is expected to involve the Government taking a 20 per cent stake costing up to £6billion.

Final negotiations are continuing with French power firm EDF, which will operate the plant.

But Mr Johnson hopes to give the green light this week as a statement of intent on his plan to build one nuclear power station a year.

Downing Street sources have said that the Prime Minister wants to set out the importance of boosting the UK’s energy security, with one saying that he would ‘emphasise that we need long-term solutions, not just short-term blow-cushioning on the cost of living’.

Writing for the Mail On Sunday yesterday, Mr Johnson said that improving energy security would also be critical when it comes to facing down Russian president Vladimir Putin as the war in Ukraine continues.

The Prime Minister acknowledged that the coming months would be ‘tough – perhaps very tough’.

But he insisted that Britain had a ‘golden’ economic future, and said his successor would bring forward more help to get people through the winter, on top of the ‘colossal’ sums already committed.

‘Next month – whoever takes over from me – the Government will announce another huge package of support,’ he said. ‘With every new wind farm we build off shore, with every new nuclear project we approve, we strengthen our strategic position,’ he added.

‘We become less vulnerable to the vagaries of the global gas price and less vulnerable to Putin’s pressure.’

The Prime Minister blamed the surge in gas prices on Putin’s war in Ukraine and said the Russian tyrant was desperate for the West to ‘buckle’

Mr Johnson accused the last Labour government of ‘13 wasted years’ on the issue, saying it had left the nuclear industry ‘heading for near collapse’. The Prime Minister blamed the surge in gas prices on Putin’s war in Ukraine and said the Russian tyrant was desperate for the West to ‘buckle’.

However, he emphasised that it would be ‘utter madness’ to ‘throw in the sponge’.

Mr Johnson will use his final week in office to make a series of visits related to his priorities in government, including the NHS, levelling up and tackling crime.

A Whitehall source said that he would make the case that he has ‘put the building blocks in place’ for delivery of his 2019 manifesto pledges, despite being forced out of office early and spending a large part of his time as Prime Minister tackling the Covid pandemic.

The PM is said to feel strongly that his successor must stick to the manifesto pledges that helped deliver the Tories’ 2019 landslide victory.

Mr Johnson has said little to friends about his plans for life after No 10.

He is expected to seek to boost his income by signing up with a major speaking agency and by resuming his writing career, including a biography of Shakespeare.

He will not take a Cabinet job from his successor. But some allies believe that he has not ruled out a political comeback. Some believe he could even return as Prime Minister before the next election if his successor runs into difficulties.

Last week Mr Johnson made a final visit to Ukraine as Prime Minister. Whitehall sources said it was possible his successor could appoint him as a special envoy to the country to utilise his strong bond with its president Volodymyr Zelensky.

The result of the Tory leadership contest will be announced on 5 September and Mr Johnson is expected to leave office the following day.

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